189
Birds at North Fambridge in 1958
Notes from my Diary
BY JACK T. FRIEDLEIN
January 1st. The year started with mild weather and a Goldcrest was
fly-catching at the top of a Norway spruce where the gnats were
dancing. 4th, Goldcrests and Coal-Tits in the pine thicket and a Great
Spotted Woodpecker in the spinney. 25 Golden Plover flew over.
5th, Goldcrests in the garden; they were about, on and off, until April
4th. 7th. At least a dozen Reed-Buntings on the cinder track every
morning; I have never been able to discover what they are doing there.
9th. Bullfinches seen daily. 11th. A Pied Wagtail below the cowshed.
12th. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the elms. 15th. A coconut cram-
med full of Great Tits at night—tails and wings sticking out of the
hole. 19th. A Shoveller Drake flew over. 21st. I saw about 300 geese
flying south over Wickford and about 50 flying south when I got home.
Several large flights of Lapwings near Woodham and about 100 Field-
fares flew south-west. The largest flock of Lapwings I have seen for
years on our marsh—probably 3,000 to 4,000. A few Golden Plover
about. 22nd. Very cold. The birds are in trouble. Fieldfares and Missel-
Thrushes coming into the garden for food. 29th. Two Coal-Tits.
February 1st. A Waxwing seen a mile from here. 2nd. A cock Black-
bird carrying nesting material and a Blue Tit gliding with wings spread
in display. Great Tits singing the spring song. 8th. Song-Thrush singing
beautifully. 9th. A cock Redshank flew overhead, vibrating its wings and
calling its mating note. 18th. About 1,500 Lapwings in one large flock
with one Golden Plover. 25th. Snow again. The most amazing concen-
tration of fowl on our fields, estimated to be fully 100,000
Lapwings. Starlings, Fieldfares, Redwings, Pipits, Ducks, Curlews, Red-
shanks, and the usual shore birds absolutely smothering the slushy fields
above the tide-line. They get a living picking about on the heavily
manured pastures.
March 5th. At midday I saw a Firecrest; soon a Goldcrest drove it off
and after pursuing it, returned to the tree where it was joined by
another Goldcrest. 19th. A Great Spotted Woodpecker is seen daily here.
21st. A Barn-Owl hunting the fields before dusk. 23rd. Six Long-tailed
Tits in the thicket. 25th. Two Tree-Creepers in the orchard. 29th. Curlews
passing eastward at night calling their migratory whistle. At 1.30 p.m.
I saw the first Chiffchaff and at 3.30 p.m. a Willow-Warbler. 30th,
Chiffchaff in song all day. The first Swallow overhead at noon. Seven-
teen Sheld-Duck on West Wick field. Green Woodpeckers "laughing"
all day.
April 16th and 19th. Single Swallows seen. 20th. Warm weather and
the Willow-Warblers and Chiffchaffs appear in force. Saw the first
Lesser Whitethroat in the pond bushes. 21st, Swallows now arriving,