Port and Wey: 4 Jan 22

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, The Windmills, Wakeham Railway Cuttings, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church and Church Ope Cove

It was back on my local patch today, and though I had 2 new birds for my year list, a silent "crest" which would not call or show itself fully, was my bogey bird today, in Pennsylvania Castle wood.

It's not often I lose a bird in the Ivy-clad trees, but just as I thought I had it, it was gone and then it would appear in another tree. Eventually it disappeared and that was it.

So Goldcrest or Firecrest? I have had both together here in the wood, so it looks like it will be another trip back here soon. Though not new for my year list I did at least have a Chiffchaff in the wood.

The other 2 new for year species, were a very mobile flock of Long-tailed Tits around St Andrew's Church and a very flighty Grey Wagtail at the cove.

Also at the cove were 6 Rock Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtail and at least 4 Wrens feeding in amongst the large pebbles.

Mammals Recorded:
Grey Squirrel

Birds Recorded:
Gannet

Cormorant

Shag

Buzzard

Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

6 Rock Pipit

1 Pied Wagtail

1 Grey Wagtail

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

1 Chiffchaff

Goldcrest/Firecrest

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Wren

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Two Cormorants crossing Church Ope Cove, whilst ............

...........just off the beach was this Shag fishing

One of the 6 Rock Pipits on the beach this afternoon with lots of Kelp Flies sat on the rocks.

This individual looks like its waiting to ambush any flies passing its way.

This Pied Wagtail was quite content to stay and feed at the north end of the beach. However the Grey Wagtail was anything but, and really couldn't decide where it wanted to be. Hence no photos of it!!

Unusual for the cove but there were two Robins east of the last hut to the north of the beach. In past years the over-wintering birds have split the beach up into at least four different areas and dare he that enters another. Could one be a female and the male is tolerating her. Should be interesting to see, next time I'm here.

Wrens love the large pebbles on the beach, especially as they can thread there way through the "tunnels" and "valleys" to catch unsuspecting insects.

And once they have had their fill, they fly back to the south-facing cliff and take a break in and around the Ivy.

Not a bird I know, but someone has attached a Tawny Owl nest box to the trunk of one of the Cypress Trees in Wakeham. One to keep an eye on.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida)

Plants:
Mahonia sp.
Japanese Spindle Tree (Euonymus japonicus)

This Mahonia is really late in flowering. In previous years it has flowered around the 17 Dec 21. There are around 70 species of Mahonia, so you can take your pick as to which one this is. More on this plant Here.