Heading out well before first light, paid dividends as a male Tawny Owl was heard calling just South of Uffmoor Wood car park at dawn, presumably near a roost site.
2+ Bullfinch were in their favoured spot at the junction of Chapel Lane.
On Walton Hill a Green Woodpecker flew up from the path near the North end and a Mistle Thrush was in full song along the West ridge.
A Buzzard was perched on a tree top near the bird hide and soon after a superb male SPARROWHAWK shot into the area from the South and dropped a shoulder before darting into the shrubs causing many a blackbird to alarm call.
The Mistle Thrush was still singing between the two plantations, 2 Jay were squarking and a Raven was calling around the South end of Walton hill. Another Raven was calling from St Kenelm's Pass.
c5 Magpie and a Buzzard were around a sheep carcass and 2 Bullfinch and a female Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted just North of the feeding station.
The feeding station was busy with 2 Nuthatch and 4+ Coal Tits present, along with Dunnock Great Tit and plenty of Blue Tit. 2 Goldfinch and 2 Bullfinches were also in the trees there.
A Buzzard was being mobbed by a crow over The Vine and a Nuthatch was calling at St. Leonard's church.
C10 Linnet were around Walton farm and 2 Buzzard were worming in the big field there.
Moat Hall farm was again alive with birds. C30 Redwing, 7+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Yellowhammer, a few Linnet, 2 Greenfinch and a pair of Pied Wagtail were noted.
Then a small dumpy bird flew up from the rough onto the wooden ranch fencing. Immediately it was obvious by the stance washed orange and brown plumage and behaviour (favouring the fence and occasional wing flicking) that it was a FEMALE STONECHAT!
She was very confiding, and was observed for 20 minutes or so in the bright morning sunlight. This area just gets better and better! Can't wait for Spring passage here!
On the pool 13+ Coot, 2 pairs of WIGEON 2 Moorhen and c80 Black headed Gull were noted. Later a male Pheasant, C40 Linnet and a Sparrowhawk were noted around the farm. The Dove/Pigeon flock were still on the field towards the Stourbridge Road. At least 50 were Stock Dove.
A large group of c80 Fieldfare dominated a Winter Thrush flock South of the pools.
25+ Starling were also nearby and at the Turnip field a pair of KESTREL were hunting with around 40 Linnet and c10 Meadow Pipit also present.
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