Today, I visited Alresford which is located just over 5 miles from Colchester in north east Essex.
The main purpose of my visit was to see the large winter finch and bunting flock that had been reported for several weeks and to photograph some of the species.
After a short walk down the lane from Alresford train station, the large finch and bunting flock became very evident. The flock was wide-ranging in the stubble fields, hedges and trees centred around the now ruined 12th Century St. Peter’s Church. It has been a long time since I last saw a wintering flock as large as this.
During a slow circular walk around the area, I added 5 species to my 2025 UK and Essex year lists, taking them to 110 species and 95 species respectively: Brambling, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting and Linnet.
The highlights from my visit were: Brambling (at least 10), Yellowhammer (at least 20), Reed Bunting (at least 20), Corn Bunting (1), Linnet (at least 50), Chaffinch (at least 200), Goldfinch (at least 10), Skylark (at least 20), Sparrowhawk (male seen twice causing panic in the finch and bunting flock), Kestrel (1), Stock Dove (2), Lapwing (2 flew over), Golden Plover (c.25 flew over), Mallard (male and female flushed from a ditch)
In addition, I recorded Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Woodpigeon plus I saw a single Reeves' Muntjac feeding in one of the stubble fields.
Here are some photos from my visit ....
Photo: Brambling
Photo: Brambling
Photo: Brambling
Photo: male and female Yellowhammers
Photo: male Yellowhammer
Photo: female Yellowhammer
Photo: male and female Yellowhammers
Photo: male Yellowhammer
Photo: female Yellowhammer
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