Big Sits 2004

A Big Sit can provide an additional challenge to the year’s events, or maybe two, if you try it in both spring and autumn. The key here is selecting a spot that gives you the best view of the surrounding countryside and is maybe close to a key species or two. From the favoured spot on this patch it is possible to view the fish farm some two kilometres to the south, where a number of species that only occur infrequently on the patch may be seen – using a high magnification lens on the telescope! This is a new event here and a total of 50 was achieved on 21st May and 49 on 30th September 2003. For comparison in 2002 just 40 species were noted on October 6th, followed by 44 on the 10th, which suggests that optimum conditions, probably in early May and again towards the end of September might well produce as many as 55 during a Big Sit at Wierton Hill Farm.

For those not familiar with this activity, the idea is to see or hear as many species as possible from within a five-metre diameter circle.

The weather this year was settled, with high diurnal temperatures and light northerly winds for much of the time. I'd prepared a good viewing mound close to the site by the barn used the previous year.

May 19th

It's a still, starry, moonless night, as I settle on my viewing mound at 3.30am, listening to the hooting of a Tawny Owl and the onomatopoeic calls of a Cuckoo . However, it does feel cool and remembering how cold I got the previous year, I'm glad of my winter coat and gloves. The calls of Marsh Frogs drift up from the many pools on the fish farm by the River Beult some two kilometres to the south, but I curse the constant noise of a distant generator. From the reservoir I hear the calls of Mallard and the GC Grebe , as the Tawny Owl continues to hoot and a Peacock calls at 3.40am from near the Stilebridge Inn. The first Blackbird calls and just before 4am a Moorhen grunts from a nearby pond, as I strain to hear or maybe see a Barn Owl flying to or from the barn. As dawn begins to break, a Robin and a Song Thrush both sing, initiating the dawn chorus. It's just after 4am and a Blackbird adds his attractive voice to the melody of song.

A Carrion Crow caws and I can also hear the raucous calls of a Pheasant – number 10 at 4.07am. A first burst of Wren song rings out and a Little Owl is silhouetted against the morning sky, perching atop a telegraph pole; a pleasing sight as none are calling. It is now 4.30am and probably too late to see or hear the local Barn Owl and sadly there is a dense mist blanketing the Weald, so there is no chance of seeing one hunting by the River Beult. A Turtle Dove purrs at 4.40am, by which time the reservoir is also covered with dense mist that has drifted north. A Woodpigeon coos, a Magpie calls and I hear a distant ‘yaffle' from a Green Woodpecker . A lone LBB Gull flies N at 4.45am, while a Great Tit calls and with the nearest Song Thrush only a few metres away the dawn chorus, to which a Blackcap now adds his voice, becomes almost deafening. The tops of the Bishop's Wood poplars are like an island in a grey sea. The mist is severely limiting visibility and I'm not adding species as quickly as I did in 2003. The first Chaffinch sings – number 20 at 4.58am. Shortly after 5am calls from Jackdaws emanate from the Deer Park, while vapour trails create attractive patterns across the dawn sky. Canada Geese call from the reservoir, a Collared Dove coos and a Starling flies by. A Stock Dove alights on a nearby power line, a Dunnock sings and a House Sparrow calls from near the barn, where a pair is nesting. The local adult male Kestrel flies low over the Greensand Ridge towards its nest, a Common Whitethroat sings from its adjacent territory and a GS Woodpecker flies towards the feeders at Spindlewood – number 30 at 6.02am. Some ten minutes later, a Jay flies down the slope – a species that we failed to see during the Patch Watch on the 1st – and the mist is still obscuring the reservoir. Eight Canada Geese fly E and I can hear fisherman talking at the reservoir but still can't see them. A Rook calls as it circles over at 6.30am, as I contemplate breakfast but I decide to wait for the sun to rise sufficiently, to provide some much needed warmth.

Bob appears out of the mist and slowly makes his way up the slope towards me by 6.45am. The local Reed Bunting is singing but too distantly for it to be heard from within my circle and I'd be extremely fortunate to see it, as its favoured habitat – the figwort patch – is out of my view. The first Swallow flies around Tanyard and a Blue Tit flies into a nearby lime tree. A Pied Wagtail perches on the Spindlewood telephone wire and two Mistle Thrushes work their way along the damson hedge by Wierton Hill. In quick succession a Goldfinch and a Yellowhammer alight on the nearby power lines as I chat with Bob, who leaves for a holiday in Canada in a couple of days. Another elusive species, the Bullfinch, is a welcome addition, as a male flies high overhead towards the Greensand Ridge, from which a female Cuckoo ‘bubbles'. A small raptor appears and disappears behind the large ash but flies quite close, as it heads NE – a super Hobby – number 40 at 7.15am and also the 100th species for the patch this year. A Greenfinch ‘wheezes' and a Coot is just visible on the reservoir, as the mist begins to burn off. A pair of Linnets suddenly appears on the power lines in front of us – a totally unexpected sighting, as there had been none since one on May 1st. Eight more Rooks fly over as Bob departs at 7.45am and it is time for breakfast in the warmth of the sun.

Birding doesn't stop and I'm pleased to see a Grey Heron flying over the poplar wood at 8am. With the mist slowly thinning, I am able to see the fish-ponds beyond the River Beult and it isn't difficult to identify a pair of Mute Swans – number 45 at 8.10am. On finishing breakfast I ponder the options. Assuming that the mist totally clears, I'll be able to find Greylag Geese and possibly a Tufted Duck on the ponds, while Black-headed and Herring Gulls are likely to visit them at some stage. A Chiffchaff might sing, as one pair has a territory just above the barn dell, while a pair of Nuthatches is nesting less than 200 metres distant and, though trees obscure their nest hole, one might call a few times. A Swift is a virtual certainty and a House Martin is also possible, while there must be a chance of seeing a LT Tit and a Sparrowhawk – a possible total of 55 and that's without any surprises!

Another LBB Gull flies over and it is just possible to see three distant gulls on the fish-ponds at around 9am. One is certainly yet another Lesser Black-backed, but it is still too hazy to be sure of the identity of the others, but they look like a Herring and a Black-headed. I hear what is almost certainly the distant call of a Greenshank, rather than a phrase of Song Thrush song, and I look towards the reservoir. The call is just audible again, seemingly further north and yet again as the sound moves NE, but I can't see a bird against the clear blue sky and sadly, feel less than 100% confident. I scan the reservoir edge again and can only see the partially leucistic duck Mallard with her six ducklings – three pale, like herself and three normal dark ones. Although it is still extremely hazy over the fish-ponds, I can just identify a group of four Greylag Geese on the lake close to Simon's house, though much of the open water is hidden by willows. It is around 9.20am, David appears with a cup of hot tea, interested to know how the day is going - the answer has to be, “Well, thank you”, particularly having seen a Hobby already.

A BH Gull calls, as it circles high overhead and by 10am it is pleasing to see that the mist has totally burned off and the views across the Weald are crystal clear. Several scans of the fish-ponds fail to produce a Tufted Duck, or any other additions. A fourth LBB Gull circles overhead and glides high S, “Where are the Herring Gulls from the nearby breeding colony?” As I ask the question, I think I hear a few calling to the north but then silence. Just after 11am another Jay appears in the nearby ash tree and flies low right overhead, “Why couldn't I find one on the 1st?” An adult Herring Gull appears at last and flies silently S. Five minutes later I watch the adult male Kestrel devouring a small rodent, as it perches on a close power line pole, but still no calls from a Nuthatch, song from a Chiffchaff or any sign of Swifts. If I'm going to reach 55, I really ought to be on 50 by now.

A friend of Laura's appears with a cup of hot coffee just after 11.30am, which is much appreciated. Just after noon the hen Linnet alights on the power line again and an hour later the Hobby – or another – circles high overhead and disappears NW over the Greensand Ridge. Somewhat surprisingly, another Tawny Owl hoots from the Deer Park at 12.45pm, while the Blackcap continues to sing in the heat of the day and it is getting hot. In this heat, under a cloudless sky it is going to be difficult to spot overflying species – I'm going to struggle to reach 50, let alone the 55 that had seemed possible earlier.

Various ‘white' butterflies remain unidentified, as they flutter among the nettles but a Holly Blue is unmistakable. Three species, Magpie, Blackbird and House Sparrow are all busy taking food to their respective nestlings and at 1pm it is time for me to eat again. A BH Gull flies N, another Bullfinch calls and a second Grey Heron flies over – time for a new species I think, as I eat. Four Swifts suddenly appear over Tanyards and disappear N behind a clump of trees equally quickly. Four more – or maybe the same four Swifts reappear over the Greensand Ridge and at 1.50pm the Hobby flies over again, providing excellent close views. Some ten minutes later, Ian arrives to look in the barn for a piece of machinery. While doing so, he disturbs the long ladder that is perched against a mass of creeper at the end of the barn and one of the Barn Owls flies out, alighting in the corner oak – number 50 at 2pm – a most unexpected, welcome bonus!

Another Jay flies over the new orchard on the Spindlewood slope and a third Grey Heron flies E. Hopes of hearing either a Nuthatch or a Chiffchaff are waning, while getting a glimpse of the Reed Bunting will be close to a miracle. Seeing a Cormorant during a May afternoon is practically unheard of, so what can I expect? Catching a glimpse of a LT Tit is maybe just possible, as is seeing a Sparrowhawk, while a House Martin seems the most likely species with which to better the previous total. Unfortunately, I can't really stay later than 6pm as I have a meeting to attend.

Is it a Tufted Duck with young on one of the fish farm pools? The heat haze is making identification extremely difficult…….shall I drive down to confirm it? I do and discover that it's a duck Mallard, with a healthy brood of young ducklings! However, taking a closer look at the lake by Simon's house, there's a Greenshank feeding and within thirty-five minutes of leaving my circle I'm back and searching through the 60x lens on my telescope. It's feeding area is hidden by a bush, but something wades across an adjacent gap and disappears. Patiently, I keep scanning and at 4.04pm it appears, feeds in full view and I add Greenshank to the list – not surprisingly, a new species for these May Big Sits. I can celebrate with a delicious, cold, elderflower drink, thanks to Laura.

On a more mundane note at least 16 Stock Doves are feeding on the set-aside below me and as a noisy, light aircraft flies over a flock of 35 flies up into the nearby oaks. While gazing yet again along the Greensand Ridge, four Swifts reappear and I'm thinking, “Why don't they attract a few House Martins?” As I scan to the right a House Martin appears – number 52 at 4.19pm - and is joined by three others a short while later. Sparrowhawk? Nuthatch? Chiffchaff? Other species are beginning to sing again, why not the Chiffchaff? The cock Linnet reappears on the same power lines at 5.15pm, but I'm feeling that the possible additions simply aren't going to oblige. Its 5.50pm, enough is enough – a most successful day and a challenging total for another year.

October 1st

I'm commencing this autumn Big Sit at 5.30am, perched on a mound of earth near the barn. A Tawny Owl hoots as I assess the circumstances. Sadly a dense fog blankets the Weald but an almost full moon shines from a starry sky in still, cool conditions. The first deer cull of the autumn is taking place this morning and I'm wondering how that will affect the Mallard flock, with its additions, like Teal and Mandarin during the last few days.

Ten minutes has passed, a female Tawny Owl calls and three different males are hooting, one to the east of the patch. Hearing Jackdaws calling surprises me, as it is still dark. The fog is drifting off the Weald and a halo forms around the moon – there will be no chance of seeing a Barn Owl along the River Beult! The first Blackbird calls and I hear a screech from a Barn Owl – a most welcome sound in the circumstances – and two Little Owls also call, followed by a Moorhen from the reservoir at 5.55am. A fox wails in the distance as a Tawny Owl hoot comes from a fourth male. More Jackdaws call and the first Carrion Crow ‘caws'. A Robin ‘tiks' just before 6.15am and a little later utters a watery, winter song, while Tawny Owls continue to call. The sky begins to lighten at 6.20am, several Blackbirds and Robins are calling and there is almost enough light to write these notes without a torch. Mallards quack from the direction of the lake.

The tall beeches along the eastern edge of the deer park are silhouetted against the now cloudy sky, but a wall of dense fog obliterates my view to the south. The first Magpie calls – number 10 at 6.40am – and is soon followed by a squeak from a Dunnock . Tree tops appear as the fog disperses and a Green Woodpecker ‘yaffles'. A Woodpigeon provides the first sight record at 6.47am. Three Canada Geese call as they appear out of the fog, flying E. Shortly before 7am a few Rooks call, more Jackdaws arrive from their roost to the east and the first shot of the deer cull rings out frightening two Stock Doves . A lone Cormorant flies high S and I can just make out the misty outline of the reservoir. A female Sparrowhawk flies into and out of the nearby ash and a Chaffinch calls as it flies over. Four more Cormorants fly in from the northwest and circle over the lake. A Blue Tit calls – number 20 at 7.23am – when the temperature suddenly drops, as mist drifts towards the Greensand Ridge from the Weald, reducing the visibility once again. A Nuthatch calls – an anticipated but still welcome sound, followed by a call from a GS Woodpecker in the ash.

Bob joins me for a short while at 7.50am, having seen several species not yet on my list. A Mistle Thrush and a few Starlings fly onto the power lines close by and a Grey Wagtail calls as it flies towards the lake – an unexpected bonus species. Two Skylarks fly S – another bonus – and two Greenfinches fly into the ash, while the spate of good fortune continues with the appearance of three Meadow Pipits , again alighting on the power lines and only just visible in the foggy conditions. A Black-headed Gull circles overhead, seemingly lost in the fog and Bob departs for Dungeness.

The fog is so dense it is extremely difficult to identify passerines at 25 metres. However, I am just able to clinch the identification of two Song Thrushes – number 30 at 8.45am – as they perch on nearby power lines. A couple of Great Tits fly towards the hedge and a much appreciated cup of hot coffee arrives at 9am, courtesy of Laura Page. A little warmth from the sun feels promising and hornets fly to and from an as yet undetected nest. Three Bullfinches are just visible, as they move N along the ‘rarity' hedge, but the sun totally disappears behind thickening cloud, as a cool wind brings more fog towards the ridge. A Chiffchaff is just visible too, but a possible Blackcap just disappears – Oh, for unrestricted views. A flock of 20 Linnets is suddenly visible on the power lines over the Spindlewood orchard. A Jay works its way N along the hedgerow shortly after 10.30am and a cock Pheasant calls, as a murky view of the reservoir appears again. Shots ring out from the deer park, as the visibility slowly improves. A Moorhen swims into view on the reservoir but there is no sign of the Coot.

It's 11.15am and another BH Gull flies S – maybe other species will soon appear. The sun begins to break through the cloud at 11.30am, so I'm hopeful that clear conditions will arrive by the afternoon, when there ought to be a possibility of seeing species like Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose and possibly GC Grebe on the Riverside Fish Farm. I'm further encouraged by the appearance of tiny patches of blue sky. Laura produces another welcome cup of coffee and as I drink it a Kestrel flies into trees beyond Tanyard. It's noon and time for an early lunch, with just 37 species totalled during the morning. As I eat, the Coot swims into view on the reservoir. A heavy, dark looking rain cloud approaches and a Reed Bunting is successfully identified as it circles overhead, before disappearing against the dark background of trees. About 30 House Martins fly NE under the dark cloud – number 40 at 12.20pm – and three more BH Gulls fly N – this activity suggests that I concentrate on the sky, while I continue to eat. A few more House Martins appear and small flocks of 20 and 40 continue to move through, as a lone Herring Gull flies S.

It's now 12.45pm and the disappearance of the mist means I can at last scan the fish ponds and fields either side of the River Beult. Sadly, the only addition is a Grey Heron . The southwest wind is increasing in strength and without the sun it's feeling cool. Two more Grey Herons fly over the area at 1pm and four Swallows fly S. A newly drilled field near the Beult is playing host to a flock of some 25 Lapwings – a most welcome bonus and a reward for diligent scanning. High overhead a female and two male Sparrowhawks circle, as they drift N. Another heavy rain cloud passes, accompanied by some 30 House Martins and a distant immature Herring Gull flies NW. A lone Collared Dove flies SW – number 45 at 1.45pm. Three Goldfinches fly from the power lines at 2.15pm and two Long-tailed Tits work their way S along the hedgerow, as more House Martins fly over, this time to the SW. Frustratingly, I am still missing House Sparrow, Wren and Blackcap. I'm noting few insects of interest but a Migrant Hawker flies by and the only butterfly is a Large or Green-veined White, which fails to settle to be identified.

Scanning the River Beult area again produces a flock of 17 Grey Herons and nearer 100 Lapwings, but not one of the missing wildfowl. More House Martins and a few Swallows fly SW into a now cold wind. Wow – at last – I can see a male and a female Blackcap feeding on elderberries in the hedgerow – number 48 at 3pm. Bob joins me for another brief visit, as more and more House Martins and a few Swallows trickle SW. It's now 4.30pm and some two-three hundred House Martins must have passed, some circling high as they go and suddenly a flock of about 15 BH Gulls appears and disappears, as I concentrate on searching for a possible Sand Martin, or even a Swift among the hirundines. I hear a “Hello”, turn round and Trish is there to see how I'm getting on. She finds it funny to see me perched on a mound of soil and takes a few photographs! She continues her walk and leaves me to search for the missing two species.

It may be a personal interpretation, but the calls from the deer in the park do sound mournful, after the cull. A few breaks appear in the high cloud but another dark rain cloud approaches, as a few more House Martins continue to move SW. It's 5pm and David kindly brings me a warming cup of coffee, and I'm wondering how long I'm going to stay. I feel there is less and less chance of adding either House Sparrow or Wren, or any other of the missing species and the moderate wind is having a chilling effect. Twelve hours is long enough and though it is disappointing not to reach 50 species, the Jackdaws are already heading E to their roost and at 5.30pm its time for me to do the same.