It had been a long week at work for both Kev and I, so we decided not to chase around the country and to stay local. There has been a large influx of hawfinches to the country with many reports of birds flying over, particularly by people out at key sites monitoring migration of various species. We decided that hawfinch would our target bird for the day. As we were local, we didn't have to set out too early as we would be waiting on the light rising - I picked Kev up at 7.00am.
The hawfinch is a striking and elusive bird, best known for its large powerful bill capable of cracking open hard seeds. Though native to the UK, it is a rare sight due to its shy nature and generally low population, boosted in numbers by migration in winter months. They are the largest UK finch and exhibit a beautiful mix of colours, including a rusty-brown body, a blue-grey nape, and striking black markings on the wings and face. They prefer mature deciduous woodlands with hornbeam, beech and yew trees. They can also sometimes be found in parks and large gardens with suitable tree cover.
Historically hawfinches were more widespread across the UK but are now mainly concentrated in certain areas, such as the Forest of Dean, the New Forest, parts of Kent, and woodlands in Sussex and Surrey. They are on the UK's Red List for conservation concern, highlighting the need for habitat protection. They are relatively quiet birds, but they have a distinctive 'tic' call that can help identify them when hidden in treetops.
In the winter of 21-22 there was a significant number of hawfinches at Great Tew in Oxfordshire, and this was repeated in 22-23, but last year there were really no reports at all. With this year looking like more of an 'irruption' than last year, many hawfinches have arrived from mainland Europe, and it is likely the habitat around this village is likely to be of interest to this species again.
We arrived and met up with Dave South who also wanted to catch up with some of these elusive birds. There was a slight mist and light was generally awful; it was obvious that there would be no award-winning photos today. We worked around the church, then split to look along the main road and down into the village. Lots of other berry and seed eating birds fed around the trees including many redwings and a handful of mistle thrush. A pair of jays appeared regularly, occasionally calling - a loud, harsh, and rasping screech. The most common call is a repeated, grating 'raak-raaak' or 'shreeeek' which carries over long distances.
We spent several hours searching without success, so decided to head to Thenford, where John-Friendship-Taylor had reported spotting three hawfinches the previous day. The best vantage point in the area is from St. Mary’s Church, a picturesque medieval church with sections dating back to the 13th century. It showcases elements of early English Gothic architecture but has undergone several restorations, particularly in the 19th century. The church's tower stands as a striking feature in the local landscape.
Dave joined us there, and as we stepped out of the car, a raven's call echoed from a distant pine. We spotted its head rising above the treetops as it called, its distinctive bill clearly visible. Circling the church, we noticed another birder perched on the far wall of the graveyard. He mentioned he'd been watching for about 45 minutes without seeing anything noteworthy but was facing the church and the trees behind it - opposite to the direction we expected most activity. Referring to a photo from the previous day, we identified the tree where two of the hawfinches had been seen and began our vigil.
Eventually, the other birder left, followed by Dave, leaving just Kev and I to continue the search. We watched as redwings, jays, and mistle thrushes busily fed on berries, hoping our target birds would soon appear.
Time was getting on, but I saw birds drop into the top of a distant tree, looking very much the right size and shape. Sure enough there were three hawfinches, confirmed through the scope. In under a couple of minutes they dropped from the tree down and out of sight in the lower canopy. We waited but we had no further joy.
A flock of jackdaws, conceled on the other side of the trees, started making quite a racket and then circled in the distance. I commented that it was a bit early for a murmuration but within seconds the reason for their displeasure became apparent - a peregrine flew through.
We waited for a while and were amused to see a grey heron perched on a tree out in front. Though it's more common to see grey herons standing in shallow water or wading along riverbanks, it's not unusual for these birds to perch in trees when they are resting. When perched, they may appear slightly out of place due to their large size and typically aquatic habits, but their adaptability is a hallmark of the species. In the tree, the grey heron adopted a relaxed posture, with its neck slightly retracted and its sharp beak pointed forward, scanning the area and pool below.
Mrs. Heseltine drove past us in a buggy and was notably displeased with our presence in the churchyard, insisting that we should have contacted "our" Rector to request permission to stand there. We explained our purpose and assured her that we were being respectful of the space, but our response did little to appease her.
A little later, another gentleman approached us, and his demeanor was far more congenial. We chatted about the birds, and he kindly asked if we could do him a favour by ensuring the church door was properly closed - a request we were happy to fulfill.
It was a pleasant day overall, and we were able to spot our target bird, albeit at quite a distance - a refreshing change from the recent intensity of Saturday birding.
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