In the snow-free coastal fields of Llanrhystud this morning there was a large flock of approx 200 lapwing, feeding together with a large flock of starlings and black-headed gulls – quite a sight. Several disagreements seemed to be taking place due to their close proximity to each other. Two redshank were feeding close by and in another field there were approx 60 curlew.
Also present were 3 kites (2 were perched on adjacent fence posts, looking like a couple of book-ends), 3 buzzards and a heron.
2 cormorants out at sea, together with a probable great-crested grebe – it was a long way out.
Back at home, we had 7 long-tailed tits on the peanut feeder. This is the first winter I’ve seen them visit the feeder in the 12 years we’ve lived here, though small flocks are regularly seen in the trees around us. Is this a visiting group who have already discovered the delights of a peanut feeder elsewhere, or have the local population taken 12 years to work it out?
Aline Denton