MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER
A fine day but cold, grey and
overcast
In the CHESS VALLEY, 2 Little Egrets back in
the meadow just east of Bois Mill and the 5 Ring-necked Parakeets flying back
and forth to feeding gardens in Chesham at dawn and dusk
Taking the opportunity to visit PENN WOOD
for the first time this autumn, I was astonished to see the amount of
Rhododendron clearing that had taken place since my last visit. Huge swathes of
it have been removed, particularly along the Penna Ride, so much so that much of
it can now be seen through and making it perhaps less attractive to roosting
finches - the site of course being one of the premier Brambling roost sites in
the country. Anyhow, seeing such destruction, I was sceptical of seeing a roost
but post 1445 hours, Fringilids began arriving and by 1600 hours, no
less than 109 BRAMBLING and 77 Chaffinches had come in - not a bad total. Much
more disconcerting was the TOTAL LACK of any Greenfinch roost in the Holly -
just 70 Redwing and 4 Bullfinch.
A WOODCOCK was flushed by a dogwalker whilst
Jay, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 8 Muntjac were all noted
Today's images
Mass clearance of Rhododendron scrub
The Penna Way
Great swathes of Rhododendron taken out
Fallen trees across the track following the storm several weeks back
One area of favoured pre-roost trees
Bramblings flocking pre-roost
A splendid winter male Brambling - magnificent finches
Bramblings taking advantage of the Beech keys prior to bedding down for the night
The main pre-roost trees
Redwing: no less than 70 came into the Holly roost
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