The second day of the Winter Farmland Bird Survey and I would cover the eastern half of High Barn Farm. It was considerably colder than the first day with a crisp frost underfoot. It was also considerably quieter on the bird front with a few Chaffinches and a couple of Skylarks among the inevitable pheasants and partridges.
However, the highlight of the month occurred as I started down the second field. A large bird whirred off in front of me and I took it to be another partridge. I got the bins on to it in case it was a grey. As it banked round I caught an impression of a long bill and immediately thought of Snipe. The back was too plain and its flight was low and purposeful. I realised then that I could only be looking at a Woodcock.
Now, as far as I am concerned the Woodcock does not exist. In the US maybe where I have seen one. But not here. It is allegedly widespread and not uncommon, so how come I had seen 212 other species of bird in the UK before seeing it? No, other birders had clearly made it up as some sort of initiation test for beginners. I could just see them sniggering as some poor sap tentatively misidentifies a Woodcock. Tee-hee.
It is still difficult to believe that I saw it.
A couple of other fields passed with a few more finches until I got to a set-aside field sandwiched between two copses. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from each copse and a moment later one flew across the field to join its mate (or rival). The set-aside itself produced a few Meadow Pipits and then a large flock of Goldfinches in one corner.
Separated from this area by a paddock two farmyards produced a smattering of Pied Wagtails, Starlings, Fieldfares and more Chaffinches. In addition dozens of Collared Doves flew out of one shed as I passed and a little colony of House Sparrows chirruped away in a nearby hedge. I could tell that I was in a built-up area!
I had not intended to cover these last patches and I returned to the car to find that I had spent four-and-a-half hours on the survey. I had walked barely half the kilometre square. Someone somewhere had been optimistic in their estimate of the workload.