DAVID'S NATURE BLOG

17 February 2025 – Spellbrook and 18 February 2025 – Southern Country Park

It was my intention to take a bus down to Spellbrook - south of Bishop's Stortford - then walk north along the towpath towards Twyford Lock - but as soon as I began walking, it was obvious that the path was extremely treacherous due to extremely muddy conditions, so I turned around to walk southwards towards Tednambury. However, the muddy conditions prevailed here too, and with the notable lack of birdlife, I decided to call it a day. New species for the year included a lone Little Grebe and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, but there was very little else of note, apart from a few tits, Mallards; a pair of Mute Swans, and a couple of Cormorants.

FEMALE MALLARD

DRAKE MALLARD

LITTLE GREBE

On my way to Southern Country Park the following day - a pair of Rooks and a pair of Greenfinches were new birds locally at Thorley Wedge. At the Rookery in Thorley Lane East the old rooks’ nests were gone, and a new one was seen with an attendant Rook in the conifer opposite - and where a large contingent of Jackdaws (c20 - the largest number I'd ever seen here) and more Rooks soon joined the throng. In Thorley Lane East Wood - below where the rookery used to be - Snowdrops carpeted the floor of the woodland; more than I'd noticed previously. SCP itself was very quiet – seemingly almost devoid of birds at times. The lake was partially frozen except for an area by the boardwalk. The ice-free area was busy with Mallards and a few BH Gulls (being fed bread by a mother and her children) but predictably the Moorhens and gulls had trouble walking on the ice. A lovely Red Kite came in from the north a gave me wonderful views as it soared round above my head and rounded the lake before moving away - but my camera was on the wrong settings for a fast-moving raptor, so all I got were a few shots as it moved out of view. Apart from these birds - a few Blue Tits; Great Tits; a Wren and a Robin the place seemed like a 'ghost town' with the noticeable lack of passerines - finches; buntings etc. And add insult to injury the footpaths were incredibly slippery with mud; ugh!!