Winter Visitors

Over the past few days more winter migrants have been observed at the reserve. Birdwatchers have enjoyed watching large flocks of Redwing passing through the site with the occasional Fieldfare. Brambling have also been spotted in the Field Centre back garden feeding amongst the chaffinches below the feeders. Migrating from Scandinavia and Russia, these birds typically begin to arrive in the UK in September and will normally have departed by April. This juvenile male was ringed at the weekend.

At this time of year our resident Blackbirds are joined by migrant ones from the continent. These birds can sometimes be identified by the fact that they have black beaks and a darker plumage than the ones from the UK.

Another migratory species that can be found in large numbers at Foxglove during the winter months is the Lesser Redpoll. These small finches feed on the birch and alder seeds around the reserve and gather in large groups below the big hopper feeders.

The bird ringers had another surprise when not one but three Sparrowhawks were caught in their mist nets too! These two are both juvenile males, perhaps from the same nest.

Much smaller than a female, the pair had brown wings and backs, with chestnut-brown edges to the feathers identifying them as this year's birds!