Local walk

I had some free time this afternoon, so put on walking boots and waterproof jacket and went out the front door ...

First north along the river from Sawbridgeworth to Thorley Wash. More Blue tits than I can recall along here in several flocks, accompanying birds included a Chiffchaff at Keksey's farm, a Coal tit and a Goldcrest at Wallbury, and a couple of Treecreepers. - always nice A flock of about 25 Siskins at Tednambury gave good views in riverside alders. 5 Redwings over were my first local birds, 5 Little Grebes on the river and plenty of Jays , also the usual list-padders such as Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers.

One of the many locks on the Stort, this one at the north end of Sawbridgeworth.

Then west up the hill to Thorley Church, and the start of the walk up to the high ground. Lots of open fields now, and footpaths leading me across recently sown winter wheat.There was a Common Buzzard sat in a field, and a flock of c15 skylarks. Up across another field to Trims Green, another small Skylark flock, and a tweeting Chiff in the bushes round the fishing pond.

Now a small wander round the high ground of Shingle Hall Farm down to Tharbies. The Peregrine was sat on its usual clod, ignoring both the flock of Wood Pigeons at the north end of the field, and two Sparrowhawks cruising the eastern perimeter. Down near Tharbies 2  Golden Plovers flew over calling whilst I was inspecting a flock of 50 Starlings. A couple of Yellowhammers called from unseen bushes and 5 Swallows went west in advance of a dark cloud. Finally 7 Red Legged Partridges scurried round the corner of a copse near West road, and that was the end of the walk.

All in about 4 hours hard walking. It's nice to get some of these birds on my walking from the house list, but there was a lot of time with no birds and not much chance of seeing any. Perhaps next time I need to park near the high ground for a proper walk round there, and walk all the way to Stortford and get the train back.

Another massive and barren field ...