Week 1 - 01 Jan to 03 January 2026

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 I'll run my weeks Sunday to Saturday as it fits with my typical working week (often Friday and Saturday are my days off).

Many of the more abundant / obvious / regular species on the patch (but often not the same actual birds season to season) will be quickly seen in the initial days and weeks. And there will likely be few new species to add until the spring migrants begin to appear back. But for me it's the watching, more than the ticking that I enjoy.

It's been a cold start to the year, with overnight frosts and days that have remained below 5 C. There still appears to be plenty of berries and seeds on the trees and bushes.

I've managed two walks in the patch with Ollie (the dog).

1st January: I managed a 2.5 miles loop linking the Ecology Park, Long and Great Meadows, including the fenced edge of the recently enlarged / barren lake (have the catchy name "Surface Water Attenuation Bason Number 5") in the mid-late afternoon of a cold but sunny day. Highlights included a group of Siskin seen feeding in an alder tree near the level crossing, plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare gauging on berries in mixed flocks, and a couple of Common Raven giving their characteristic croaks in a pine tree along Southbrook Lane.

The eBird checklist from the 1st January. X means bird present but not counted, I do this when challenging to count birds (often overwhelmed by number or by them moving ahead of me along a path or road meaning I'm not sure if I've already counted them of not.


All in all a lovely days and pleasure to be out, and 25 species on the year list on day 1.

3rd January: Following a walk with friends in northern Dartmoor on the 2nd (when I added a Great Spotted Woodpecker from the sunflower heart feeder in my garden), back for a local walk on the 3rd with Ollie. Today, it was just 50 mins covering the ecology park, and Long Meadow, with the housing estates in between. Another beautiful but cold day, with all the ponds / lakes frozen.

It was amusing to see a Moorhen striding atop the frozen pond in the ecopark, constantly putting its beak to the ice as to chip away at it. 

The ecopark southwesternmost pond

The new enlarged drainage basin 5 which is still under construction (devoid of any plant life at the moment)
Three new species added today, a Green Woodpecker was seen within the fenced safety of Cranbrook Education Campus (the Primary School section), flitting between small trees and turfed areas around the car park. I only see Green Woodpeckers around once per month (although I hear them more often in certain months), and more frequently in the Rockbeare part of the patch. 

A pair of Chaffinch were added near the old Rockbeare bridge, and a single Bullfinch heard near the Crannabrook in the Long Meadow. I must admit I do love a Bullfinch, a really striking / attractive bird, and just uncommon enough to make a good sighting a real treat. 

Three days in (the end of week 1) this sees the patch count sit at 29. 
 

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