Blue Tits inspect nest box - spring is coming!

Andy M heard birds calling insistently in the garden today, and tracked it down to a pair of Blue Tits inspecting a nest box on the side of the house.  One bird (possibly the male) was clearly very happy - blue crest up and blue tail spread - standing guard and calling to the world that this box was theirs, while the other spent ten minutes or so inspecting inside and out.  We'll see whether it passed muster!

Golden Plover over Roman Road

Andy M took a walk along the Roman Road east of Worsted Lodge on 16th Dec.  Besides seeing nice views of a Yellowhammer, and numerous Fieldfare and Redwing, he saw several loose V-shaped flocks of what looked like waders flying south over the fields towards Abington.  Probably 50-100 birds in total. One group came over low enough to get a few photos, allowing identification of the birds as Golden Plover.  

Anne D-N reported also seeing large flocks of Golden Plover on the fields near Abington Park Farm in previous years (last sightings Jan 2017). On that occasion, Anne reckoned the flock had 80+ birds and they flew in tight formation, all landing together and flying up together - and looked stunning in flight when the sun caught their wings.