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Hawfinch
Feeding on fruits of ancient yew in churchyard.
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Hawfinch
Bright male.
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Greenfinch
Also feeding on yew.
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February
2018
The hefty Hawfinch invaded the British Isles in numbers this winter from North-Eastern Europe giving all a great chance to observe this elusive woodland species.
The hefty Hawfinch invaded the British Isles in numbers this winter from North-Eastern Europe giving all a great chance to observe this elusive woodland species.
The influx last October continued well into November with birds settling down
over the winter period usually in areas rich with Hornbeam. So the opportunity
to see this large and exotic finch should not be missed this winter, before the
birds return to their breeding grounds most likely in Russia.
Irruptive movements were first observed with flocks of about 10 to 45 birds moving South during visible migration watching, 'Vizz-Migging', at Old Hunstanton in the latter half of October. It is thought that this year's southwards migration from central and Eastern Europe coincided with the arrival of Storm Ophelia which headed eastwards from the Atlantic. Strong and swirling anti-cyclonic winds pushing many of the migrating Hawfinches into the UK. Also the invasion could indicate a successful breeding season of the Russian population closely followed by a lack of suitable food as the passage into the British Isles occurred over quite a long period.
There is historical evidence of sporadic large scale winter influxes into Norfolk mainly during the nineteenth century but these have rarely been seen in recent times. There is now less than 800 pairs of Hawfinch breeding in the UK, the species being in continual decline, but surprisingly the Dutch population is very healthy from which many in this invasion may belong.
Migration data on this species is very thin on the ground due to the Hawfinches wary elusiveness, arboreal habits and irregular movements. Ringers therefore have been unable to get their hands on them in significant numbers to generate reliable data. Surely a Hawfinch is sturdy enough to carry a latter day satellite tagging device? As ever Lynford Arboretum holds good numbers each winter with 17 on the 10th the birds gathering prior to roosting in conifers here.
We obtained great views of the species at Great Massingham Church yard where up
to 15 birds have regularly showed on Yew here. The attraction appears also due
to an assault course of massive bird feeders in the large back garden next door
and adjoining the Yew hedge. It should be noted that Common Yew leaves and
seeds are highly poisonous to livestock and humans but obviously not to
Hawfinch and Mistle Thrush which were avidly feeding on them. The pleasant and
fleshy aril contains the poisonous seed but even so we have heard tell of a Cornish
bloke who to this day eats the aril spitting out the kernel and seed thus
avoiding immediate death... Two birds
were also attracted to Yew near to the
Holkham Park main gate earlier this month.
Irruptive movements were first observed with flocks of about 10 to 45 birds moving South during visible migration watching, 'Vizz-Migging', at Old Hunstanton in the latter half of October. It is thought that this year's southwards migration from central and Eastern Europe coincided with the arrival of Storm Ophelia which headed eastwards from the Atlantic. Strong and swirling anti-cyclonic winds pushing many of the migrating Hawfinches into the UK. Also the invasion could indicate a successful breeding season of the Russian population closely followed by a lack of suitable food as the passage into the British Isles occurred over quite a long period.
There is historical evidence of sporadic large scale winter influxes into Norfolk mainly during the nineteenth century but these have rarely been seen in recent times. There is now less than 800 pairs of Hawfinch breeding in the UK, the species being in continual decline, but surprisingly the Dutch population is very healthy from which many in this invasion may belong.
Migration data on this species is very thin on the ground due to the Hawfinches wary elusiveness, arboreal habits and irregular movements. Ringers therefore have been unable to get their hands on them in significant numbers to generate reliable data. Surely a Hawfinch is sturdy enough to carry a latter day satellite tagging device? As ever Lynford Arboretum holds good numbers each winter with 17 on the 10th the birds gathering prior to roosting in conifers here.
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Mistle Thrush
2 birds also keenly feeding on Yew arils.
This bird in song from church tower
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Hawfinch field sketch
On Hornbeam along a Devon hedgerow.
See Gallery tab above. |
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