Eyeworth - 6th March

The weather was sunny and mild. Highlights were Mandarins, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail, Marsh Tit and Fallow Deer.

As usual the birds were being fed at Eyeworth Pond and there were Marsh, Blue, Great and Coal Tit with a Nuthatch, Robins and Chaffinches. The pond was frozen over and the Mallards were slipping on it. A pair of Canada Geese sensibly stayed on the grassy bank. We were treated to 13 Mandarin flying in and landing on the ice close to us. We walked past the Canada Geese and they walked out on the ice making it creak under their weight! As we left the pond a Buzzard flew over.
The woods were fairly quiet at first. We startled a few Fallow Deer and stopped to hear Stock Dove and Chaffinch singing. At another point we stopped where there was a tit flock with Marsh, Coal and Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a Goldcrest. There were a few Song Thrush and Blackbird here too. We got out onto the heath and it was even quieter up there, just a Buzzard and a few Meadow Pipit and Carrion Crow. Walking back through the woods we saw Wood Spurge just starting to flower, Robin and Coal Tit singing and a couple of Roe Deer. Just as we got back towards the pond Lyz spotted a Grey Wagtail. Lastly, a couple of House Sparrow had joined the birds feeding by the pond and there were a few Coot and a Moorhen on the pond itself.
Simon Curson