Hawfinch advice (1 Viewer)

[CharleyBird]

I live N London and work out towards Southend. A rainy day means I've been armchair birding with the new Collins 2nd edition, reflecting seeing a Hoopoe, Firecrest and Snowy Owls about 30 years ago (Ok the owls were in Edinburgh Zoo so maybe they don't count:t.

Anyway, never seen a Hawfinch and with winter visitors and leafless trees making it easier, could anyone suggest where, within reasonable travelling distance, I might see this bird?

Regards

Andy

 

[CharleyBird]

Found this old thread
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/british-birds/1607-help-hawfinch.html
Any recent sightings at
Bennington?
Gt Baxted?
Hockley?
Ingrebourne?

 

[Viv Connett]

They have been seen recently at Braxted Park but you have to be very lucky to see them!

 

[neil78]

Apart from one brief sighting last February, there haven't been any reports of Hawfinch at Hockley since March '07.

 

[purple highflyer]

I live N London and work out towards Southend. A rainy day means I've been armchair birding with the new Collins 2nd edition, reflecting seeing a Hoopoe, Firecrest and Snowy Owls about 30 years ago (Ok the owls were in Edinburgh Zoo so maybe they don't count:t.

Anyway, never seen a Hawfinch and with winter visitors and leafless trees making it easier, could anyone suggest where, within reasonable travelling distance, I might see this bird?

Regards

Andy

Hi Andy

Braxted park is the only one of the locations you mention worth a try and then ,as already said, certainly not garunteed,the bennington birds were a one-off group of migrants although they have been known to breed there in the past,the traditional roost site at broxbourne woods is now virtually not worth a visit from my last 15 visits I have only had one brief sighting of a single bird last january.
In short In herts and essex Hawfinch is a very scarce bird indeed !,take a day at Lynford arboretum if you can & try the large hornbeams in the paddock early morning ,try to see em before they,re gone !.:-C

PH

 

[CharleyBird]

Thanks for the replies; I took a chance yesterday and drove up to Braxted. Reckon I heard them and saw them very briefly flying away in Fabians's Plantation to the N.E. of the park.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=161651

Will have to visit early on a bright morning dressed in camoflage.

 

[purple highflyer]

Thanks for the replies; I took a chance yesterday and drove up to Braxted. Reckon I heard them and saw them very briefly flying away in Fabians's Plantation to the N.E. of the park.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=161651

Will have to visit early on a bright morning dressed in camoflage.

Hi CharleyBird

Please let us know if you do see any confirmed Hawfinch at Braxted.

PH

 

[TomW]

To Braxted park this morning, following Charleybird's directions (many thanks), on the trail of the mythical Hawfinch. Unsurprisingly the beast did not grant me an audience, but a fine walk was had nonetheless.

A good area for birds, with a variety of habitat and plenty of very tall mature trees some of which had more mistletoe on than I think I have ever seen (see pics).

Usual woodland birds seen; Blue, ,Great and Long Tailed Tits, Robin , Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Greater Spotted and Green Woodpecker.
At one point I heard some regular soft tapping from an area of dense wood, which reminded me of the last time I saw a Lesser Spotted Woody, but despite peering into the gloom for several minutes, nothing was seen.

Plenty of Crows and Jackdaws about, and quite a few Jays, and huge flocks of Wood Pigeon over the fields. Some geese were heard but not seen, a Buzzard was seen several times and on the fishing lake to the north of Braxted were 100+ Mallard, a pair of Tufties and a Cormorant.
So, no Hawfinch and no surprises, but I would imagine that on the right day, this area could produce some excellent birding.

Cheers
Tom

 

[CharleyBird]

A local birder I met at nearby Colemans reservoir told me that lesser spotted woodpeckers are to be seen at Shut Heath Wood, about three miles south of Braxted Park. He said that though there are no public footpaths, the land is owned by the council and can be accessed along a path running north at the west side of Criers Wood, and then walking west along the border of the field to Shut Heath Wood.

I intend going up again next weekend or the first good weather, probably walking as far as Kelevedon Hall Wood if need be.

Regards

Andy


Andy

 

[TomW]

I've only seen Lesser Spots twice, once was in Bedfords park near Romford, in the area of wood to the north of the deer pen, the second was in my Mum's garden in Romford! Not the most obvious places to see Lesser Spots, right place, right time I guess.

Cheers
Tom

 

[CharleyBird]

Fail... second try this bright frosty morning, arriving at 7am, walked as far a Kelvedon Hall Farm and back to the Braxted Park entrance without sight nor sound of Hawfinch.

Saw most of what Tom describes bar the treecreeper. Both woodepeckers showing nicely, buzzard perched on a dead tree East of Glebe house, also small flock of goldfinch, starling & fieldfare together on fields, perfect view of a pair of red-legged partridge feeding on the path by the wall, grey wagtail (at distance on the roof of Glebe House!), few dunnock, flock of black headed gulls, and pheasants literally all over the place, presumably bred for sport.

Got back to the car at 9.15 and a great tit landed on my wing mirror; started pecking at it's reflection, perched again, then tried to get in my drivers window to share my sandwich lol.

 

[CharleyBird]

Fail... this time at Lynford Arboretum (Suffolk), arrived 06.45 and left 11.00. Had a doubtful/unidentified in the trees centre of the paddock.
But did see a flock of 20+ crossbill
And goldcrest, siskin and loads more including first swallows of the year.

Wonderful woods, well worth a return journey, thanks for the suggestion PH.

 

[purple highflyer]

Fail... this time at Lynford Arboretum (Suffolk), arrived 06.45 and left 11.00. Had a doubtful/unidentified in the trees centre of the paddock.
But did see a flock of 20+ crossbill
And goldcrest, siskin and loads more including first swallows of the year.

Wonderful woods, well worth a return journey, thanks for the suggestion PH.

Hi CharleyBird

Affraid you may have left it a tad late to see hawfinch,best time is febuary.

PH

 

[Marmot]

Hi CharleyBird

Affraid you may have left it a tad late to see hawfinch,best time is febuary.

PH

Think might be a bit wrong ,although this was at Cumbria [Sizergh Castle]and not your area ...we had great views of them last week and have been noted there during the past couple of weeks on a regular basis.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/300956/ppuser/21

 

[purple highflyer]

Think might be a bit wrong ,although this was at Cumbria [Sizergh Castle]and not your area ...we had great views of them last week and have been noted there during the past couple of weeks on a regular basis.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/300956/ppuser/21

Yes,you still have a fair chance,just saying, if your going to travel the kind of distance that CharleyBird is you would pobably have a much better chance in late jan/feb than late march,lynford does go quiet for hawfinch then,the birds paird up for breeding generaly leave the area as it is a winter feeding site, not (as far as I know)a breeding area.

PH