Short entries from walks along the canals and parks, mostly in the cold months, when the rowan and hawthorn berries bring in the flocks. Nothing scientific — just what turned up, where, and roughly how many.
Late November
Around forty Bombycilla garrulus came down on the two rowans just after nine and stripped one tree in under twenty minutes. Lots of trilling, very little fear of people. A blackbird tried to defend the second tree and gave up quickly.
Mid November
The first proper frost. A loose group of fieldfares and a few redwings working the edge of the meadow, moving off whenever a dog came near. One mistle thrush on the fence, alone as usual.
Early November
A pair of bullfinches in the old apple tree behind the allotments — the male unmistakable even in grey light. They stayed for maybe five minutes, quietly picking at buds.
October
Restarting these notes after a summer away. The plan is the same as before: one entry per walk worth remembering, no lists for the sake of lists.