BIRDS OF NORTH FAMBRIDGE 105
Birds of the North Fambridge area
in 1952
(Notes from my diary)
BY JACK T. FRIEDLEIN
January. 9th. A Great Spotted Woodpecker. 18th. A Tree-Creeper
in the orchard. 20th. About 300 Teal on our marsh, and 20 Ringed Plover
on the tide-line—sweet little birds and quite tame.
February. 3rd. Several Snipe on the marsh. 7th. The birds are singing
as though Spring is here. 9th. Two Barn Owls passed in front of the ear
about two miles from home. 20th. A pair of Tree-Creepers on the place
and a Kingfisher flew inland from the marsh. 26th. A Wren building a
nest. A pair of Pied Wagtails on the dung-heap. These farm dung-heaps
do more to save insect-feeding birds in Winter than is generally realised.
March. 2nd. A pair of Peregrine Falcons flying quite low, displaying
and calling as they pass by on migration northwards. 8th. A flight of
Widgeon and Teal seen. The migrating calls of Curlew heard as they
pass over during the night. I always look forward to hearing them as a
sign that Spring is not far distant. 9th. About 100 Fieldfares flew out
of a low thicket. 16th. At least 50 Redwing singing away like fun in our
pine thicket. I have never heard such a beautiful chorus. 19th. The large
flock of Redwing still in our thicket. Surely this is late? 21th. Widgeon
still in marsh, calling at night as they pass. 26th. Redwings still in
thicket, they appear to be afraid to leave. 27th. Cold spell starts, the
Redwing must have known! 28th. Roaring easterly gale, snow and ice,
more like January. Coldest weather for time of year since 1871.
April. 2nd. A Peregrine Falcon dived on a tame pigeon. Miraculously
it dodged death by crashing through our apple orchard and remained rooted
to an elm branch for an hour and a half after the attack. It was an
amazing sight to see this attack, to which the air-rush of the falling bodies
drew my attention. 4th. Saw the Peregrine fly east off the marsh this
evening. 5th. Widgeon still in the marsh—it is late for these birds to
leave. 6th. Redwing still with us. 7th. Saw the first Willow-Warbler.
33 Widgeon passed over at dusk, whistling merrily. 9th. Willow-Warblers
arrive in force. 10th. The first Whitethroat. 11th. Lesser Whitethroats
and three Swallows. Watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker performing a
new trick. The high-tension poles are topped by a piece of tin like a little
roof: the bird flew from pole-top to pole-top, rattling on the tin in order,
no doubt, to make the centipedes or woodlice run out for him to catch.
13th. Willow-Warblers abundant everywhere. 14th. Two Oyster-catchers
flew into the marsh. 17th. Swallows arriving very slowly. 18th. Heard
Cuckoo at 5 a.m.; also a Blackcap and the first Nightingale. 24th. Two
House-Martins arrived. 27th. Turtle-Doves and Whinchats are here.
May. 4th. First Swift. Whimbrel heard passing over at 11 p.m. 7th.
Swifts common. 19th. Spotted Flycatchers back at their usual sites.
22nd. Pied Wagtails in many places. They are on the increase. 26th.
Blackcaps singing in most thickets. 28th. Three baby Pied Wagtails being
fed by their parents on the cowshed roof. 29th. Many Swifts every evening,
a big increase.
June. 5th. Song-Thrushes doing well, several young birds on the wing.
8th. Took a boat to see the local Black-headed Gull colony. Every nest
destroyed by the high tide. This June high tide destroyed countless nests
round our east coast up to Norfolk. All sanctuaries report disaster. 22nd.