Beddington Farm - The Beast takes hold!

As the “Beast from the East” takes a firm grip on the UK the survival of birds in particular passerines hangs in the balance. The search for food literally becomes a matter of life and death. I have ensured my garden restaurant is fully stocked with seed, fatballs and fruit (oranges and apples).

This morning at the Farm I missed the two female Goosander found by Frank, but arrived in time to relocate the Iceland Gull that had joined the masses of gulls resting on the layer of snow on the frozen lake. The rest of the morning was pretty uneventful, Frank went about his business as I took a walk over the mound to see if anything had been forced down by the snow.

The valley turned out to be the most productive area with Fieldfare, Meadow Pipits and Song Thrush taking advantage of the almost clear North slope. A couple of Jack Snipe and numerous Snipe were seen along the frozen water at the valley bottom. Lapwing was following a bulldozer with a view to stealing a disturbed morsel on the most southerly mound.

I returned to the North lake to eyed up as lunch by a resident Kestrel. News broke from Pete Alfrey at the observatory window that there was a record movement Golden Plover and Lapwing over Canons Farm, see Steve Gales blog North Downs and Beyond for more details.

As the snow filled clouds moved in from the East the movement of Lapwing increased some flocks seemed to be flying for their lives. Pete picked up a high flying flock of fifteen Golden Plover but I could not see them. The next Golden Plover took a look at the North Lake circling before departing NW. The wind was by now picking up and the blizzard began. The movement of birds stopped for a while and I took advantage of a break in the weather to make my way home. More Golden Plover and Lapwing were recorded from the observatory window along with the pale phase Glaucous Gull.

Totals: Golden Plover 25, Lapwing 121, Fieldfare 188, Jack Snipe 3, Snipe 30, Meadow Pipit 16.

The snow has been falling this evening cancelling local football. With more snow forecast I wonder what tomorrow will bring!