Winter Movements

Heading in the opposite direction, myself, I startled a Redwing or two as I passed some of the smaller bushes across the river, the nervy birds taking to flight with a whispy whistle. I then spotted their much larger cousin, a Fieldfare, perched on what appeared to be a bare bush just across the flowing water. Slowing my approach I calmly, carefully edged closer, until I was stood opposite the bird staring at the beautiful orange, grey and brown plumage of this winter thrush as it began to feed on the deep red berries of the spiky bush it was resting on.

Fieldfare – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/800 sec ISO 200 (cropped)

Same Fieldfare – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/800 sec ISO 200 (cropped)

Fieldfare – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/800 sec ISO 200 (cropped)

Wing Flapping Fieldfare – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/500 sec ISO 200 (cropped)

Fieldfare feeding on berries – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/500 sec ISO 200

Fieldfare – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/200 sec ISO 200

Final Fieldfare – River Ouse, Milton Keynes 400mm @ f/6.3 1/200 sec ISO 200

A second Little Egret could be seen, still and silent in amongst the brown reeds, as it put all its concentration into spotting a small fish or too in the dark, cold waters rushing between its legs. Thankfully I was able to capture a swift photo or two before the inevitable passing dog walkers disturbed its presence and it too leapt into the air and headed up stream, this time flying low over the green fields of the opposite bank.

Little Egret hunting along the River Ouse, Milton Keynes Canon 70D 400mm @ f/6.1 1/1000sec ISO 200

Passing under the iron trunk aqueduct, through the low, dark, cattle creep the movement of winter thrushes started to grow. Flock after flock of Fieldfare flew overhead, their chacking flight call sounding harsh when compared to the more timid call of the accompanying Redwing. Their more sedentary cousin the Blackbird could be heard issuing alarm calls from multiple directions. Screaming a warning of some unseen foe or their own shadow as often seems to be the case with these birds. Wrens, Robins and Dunnock were singing from all corners. Often belting out their beautiful winter versions of their summer melodies from deep within the bushes, hidden from sight but easy to locate.

European Robin along River Ouse, Milton Keynes Canon 70D 400mm @ f/5.6 1/400 ISO 320

Another passing tit flock could be heard above, and all around, me as I approached the small board-walk. The Long-tailed Tits trilling calls ringing out from the high branches of the Alders; Great Tit and Blue Tit flitting about through the branches, either leading the way of the flock or following but rarely mixing in with their long tailed cousins. A shriller, longer call, could also be heard mixing in with the flock.

And then the brown, unmistakable shape of a Treecreeper flew out from behind one of the tall trees. Alighting over the river on a fallen beast of a tree, quickly working its way along the decaying bark in search of a hidden grub.

Two small Goldcrests briefly popped up in the heart of the flock before also disappearing off over the river and deep into the undergrowth.

Great Tit along the River Ouse, Milton Keynes Canon 70D 400mm @ f/5.6 1/640 ISO 320

The noise clearly had the desired effect as ducks and other water birds from all around took to the air. Small flocks of Common Teal and Shoveler came up from the Manor Farm pits behind me; groups of Mallard and Gadwall shot into the skies from the camp site lakes; the local Cormorants, who had been drying their wings on skeletal dead trees, were frightened onto the open water, where they began to frantically search the skies for the threat; even one of the Mute Swans (albeit one of this years birds) could be heard calling, its almost owl like alarm from the inlets of the pits.

Male Mallard in flight over Manor Farm, Milton Keynes Canon 70D 400mm @ f/6.3 1/2500 ISO 320 (cropped)

Eastern Ends

After leaving the flighty ducks of the Western end behind I carried on East. And as I neared the millennium bridge two further loud cracks, of the bird scarer, boomed off from the fields north, towards the old water tower. The noise sending the birds of the East end pits into the air this time.

Clouds of Wigeon and Lapwing filled the skies. The former’s eerie, whistling calls echoing around the river valley. A sound as synonymous with winter water bodies, as the chiffchaff is to summer days. Another of the Winter Movements.

A brief scan across the lakes as the birds began to settle revealed a lone female Goosander, swimming rapidly away from the noise. Walking round to get a full view of the lakes and I could not relocate her, whether she had been frightened off by the yellow jacketed workmen or simply hunkered down against a bank somewhere I do not know.

Return Journey

I decided to make a return journey back up river, rather than head around and across the open fields below the farm buildings. And so turning back West, as seems to always be the case, the pair of Stonechats popped up. Why they always appear on my return walk and not as I pass the first time I will never know; perhaps I am just looking harder. But as I approached the lone bench, between the bridge and the paths corner, they duly hopped up onto the wire fence and gave me and a passing elderly lady an opportunity to have a prolonged view of the attractive pair.

Male Stonechat on a fence post Canon 70D 400mm @ f/5.6 1/640 ISO 320

As I moved off from the chats, the clouds started to cover the sky. The small fluffy white clouds transforming into a complete blanket of greys and whites; the rich blue winter sky now replaced with a dark sheet. Walking back up river the movement of winter thrushes continued to gather pace. But little else caught the imagination, until I had passed back under the canal.

Back West

Once back on the western side of the Grand Union Canal, as I rested for a moment on the set of U shaped benches by the pump house, a small flock of Redwings alighted in one of the Blackthorn stood beside the river. I grabbed up my camera and attempted to creep closer. Just as I was getting near enough to photograph these smart looking thrush; a local dog walker appeared across the fields, and they were off into the copse beside the river.

Cutting my losses I headed across the same fields and home.

Walk Map of Winter Movements