Week 5 - 25 - 31 January 2026

Another very wet week, limited my 5 daytime dog walks on the patch beneath waterproofs most days again. On Monday night into Tuesday, we had an exceptional rainfall event (Storm Chandra) when around 50 mm of rain fell within 12 hours, and resulted in some of the most severe flooding in Devon in the past 30 years.

Out local streams that run through my patch respond very quickly (both rising and falling) peaked in the overnight hours, but I did pop down to Clyst Honiton a couple of miles west of my patch to watching the exceptional flood peak pass on the River Clyst (with the gauge recording the highest level on record).

Although I was unable to see the flood peak live in Cranbrook, I did get out in the subsequent days to see the damage done to the Country Park by the flooding. The newly expanded lake (with bare banks) became a river channel, with the inflows and outflows at either end of the lake damaging the banks, paths and drainage works considerably. Such a shame as I was hoping this area would be re-opened and replanted soon, as the previously smaller but well vegetated lake was home to Moorhen, Mallards, Mute Swans, and a Kingfisher during 2025.

Recently expanded drainage basin 5 (the lake) has had the bare earth banks, paths and other drainage works badly damaged during flooding linked to Storm Chandra. This will likely delay the end to building works and the replanting of this region.

It was also crazy to see just how high the stream through the Great Meadow managed to get, as evidenced by the debris wedged into the footbridge across the boggy reserve where I stumbled upon the Jack Snipe a couple of weeks back.

The debris from flooding reached the foot desk of the bridge into the nature reserve across from the Great Meadow. By Thursday the stream was over 2 metres lower than it was on Tuesday morning

On Sunday the 25th (pre-flood) I only managed time for a short 40 minute loop around the Cranbrook Ecology Park. Still 22 species recorded, with the highlight being 2 Bullfinch. Alerted by the beautiful flute like calls of two birds either side of me, I found and had good views of the female, working her way around buds on a small tree. Bullfinch are one of my favourite species I see semi-regularly, I love their call, the look (especially the male), and the fact you can sex them, and spot juveniles easily. I find this along with their reasonable scarcity adds another element to watching them.

Following two work / rain days, where I walked Ollie the dog at night I got out on Wednesday morning through a still very saturated Country Park. The most notable thing was the songs were back in abundance, with 4 male Song Thrushes (great to see so many), and a 8 Dunnocks singing.

On Thursday we explored a drizzly Great Meadow after lunch, with the first Fieldfare I've seen for a while seen among a large group of Redwings which were largely feeding on the ground in the soft margins left behind by the floodwaters. 

On Friday another flood was underway on my so-called 3 mile Rockbeare loop, which helped as the workman would not be on the closed road, allowing me to nip through and complete the loop. Plenty of common species seen, but nothing new / unusual.

Finally, on Saturday I got out for sunrise and it was dry and bright. Birds are definitely at their most active in the dawn hours, so this was a treat. Plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare heard and seen, but the highlight again was the Song Thrushes, 4 males on high perches singing in full voice, meant there was barely any of my 90 minute walk where I couldn't hear a Song Thrush on the go. It's a welcome morning sound, and gives me hope that spring is just 6 weeks or so around the corner.

A Song Thrush in full voice on Gribble Lane early on Saturday 31 January 2026

Another week with no new species added to the 2026, so (as we have been since the 14 January 2026) we remain at 46 for the patch this year.