In The Countryside: Pam Taylor enjoiys more nature sights on her eventful New Year's walk.

I spoke about the annual New Year walk earlier this week, but only had space to talk about purple hairstreak butterflies and the deer that I'd seen. The main focus of the walk was however the birds. Soon after leaving our start point we had to walk beside a hedge that separated two fields. Here a good flock of yellowhammers were using the bushes as shelter. The bright yellow males really stood out against the dull winter background.

Further on and now beside the broad, we heard bearded tits in the reeds and saw wrens flitting between the stems. Rush Hills scrape was however devoid of ducks due to the strong wind whipping up large, white-topped waves across it, although a lone Egyptian goose was sitting on the tern platform. The more sheltered dyke between the path and broad held a few mallard and teal, plus even the occasional mute swan, but it wasn't until we reached the eel set hut that we really found anything of note.

Here we could look across marshes on the far side of Candle Dyke to see a flock of shelduck. Just beyond them we spotted several common cranes. We disputed a bit about how many were present, but I think at least eight were there. It was difficult to get an accurate number because we were viewing everything through the tops of the reeds. One lucky observer said he'd identified a female hen harrier flying past. I saw marsh harriers on our walk though, and a couple of buzzards circling in the distance.

Despite the windy conditions the sun was bright and several waders were flying around. We all commented on the good numbers of lapwing seen, and a lone snipe drew our attention as it flew past calling.

After walking between the marshy fields where greylag geese were gathered, we regained the shelter of the lane back towards the church. Here the hedgerows were full of house sparrows and blue tits, while glimpses into the fields showed flocks of rooks and jackdaws. Singing from the hedge tops were robins and close to the church a charm of goldfinches chattered their way across the tree tops.