Marshfield, 23rd March 2026
Leader: Peter Bryant
9 members convened on the edge of Marshfield to start the visit to this farmland area. Despite us officially being in a ‘heatwave’, it felt decidedly cool with a North Easterly breeze. An initial set of ‘birds on the wire’ were confirmed as Goldfinch; another one behind us was one of our target birds, Yellowhammer. There was the first of three Red Kites overhead and House Martins whizzed around us.
Major excitement when we reached the dilapidated cottage as Dendy detected movement at the back – Little Owl! Not seen by all initially but further views were obtained over the next few minutes (and on our return route). Two birds were entering the building or looking out of a crack in the wall.
Heading up Northfield Lane, we soon heard then saw a Corn Bunting (the only one for this visit) and Skylarks started to give us a serenade. Along that rather overgrown lane, we spotted a group of Linnets and there were numerous Swallows overhead whilst the horse fields held Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws.
Rushmead Lane was relatively quiet but we were entertained by a Brown Hair lolloping across a field (two more were seen later). We caught up with some butterfly species including Holly Blue, Gatekeeper & Peacock. We returned by the road around the back of Rushmead Barn adding Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail to the list and stopping to photograph a set of Swallows chattering on a telegraph wire.
Birds seen:
Pheasant Starling
Swift Blackbird
Woodpigeon House Sparrow
Collared Dove Pied Wagtail
Herring Gull Chaffinch
Lesser Black-backed Gull Linnet
Red Kite Goldfinch
Little Owl Corn Bunting
Jackdaw Yellowhammer
Rook
Carrion Crow
Skylark
Swallow
House Martin
(23 species)
