In the drizzly gloom of mid-February at High Ash Farm, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin marvel at a restless flock of 200 redwings—migratory thrushes with speckled breasts and rusty flanks—congregating en masse on close-grazed pastures, their seep calls and defensive flights a prelude to their North Sea crossing back to Scandinavian breeding grounds, amid tales of nocturnal migrations, tundra nests, and communal roosts, while watchful goshawks and buzzards lurk nearby. A zigzag quest across overwinter wild bird seed mixes yields elusive common snipe—amber-listed wetland waders with probing bills and jinxing flights—displaced by flooded river valleys, alongside diminutive jack snipe and insights into their mechanical "drumming" displays from vibrating tail feathers, proven by 19th-century cork experiments. Serendipitous sightings abound: bounding hares, a rare grey partridge (England's native red-listed heart-marked gem) evoking coveys and courtship chases, skylarks trilling aloft, pheasants flushing at close quarters, and pregnant Chinese water deer lolloping uphill. Amidst emerging daffodils and sweet violets, they spotlight diminutive wildflowers: star-like chickweed buds feeding finches and buntings, and orchid-esque red dead nettle with hooded pink blooms and honey guides, a harmless mint-family mimic thriving on disturbed soils. Listener echoes enrich the ramble: urban moorhens in London gardens, sparrowhawk pursuits through hedges, badger etymology linking "bald" to white stripes or shaved pelts, starling serenades, and debates on thrush family classifications. This episode celebrates late winter's fleeting visitors and resilient blooms, ideal for embracing the subtle stirrings of spring's approach.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/18674464-episode-2-59-redwing-rallies-and-snipe-searches.mp3?download=true
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Chris@highashfarm.com
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