Foot It - Monday, Monday

 

95 species - 100 miles - 208k steps

The long forecast for the remainder of the month looks very wet, with the wind resolutely from the south and rain until the 25th. As such, I am dropping steps when the weather is somewhat cooperative. 

I was out the door by 07:30 and couldn't believe how mild it was, already 8° with the wind coming from the south, for the first time this year. I got up to Hall Farm and checked the top reservoir, where I was richly rewarded by a single Coot and literally no other birds. I carried on, enjoying winter thrushes, Meadow Pipits and Skylark - but no year ticks. 

Sunrise at Hall Farm

I was stopped in the café for some breakfast and was pretty despondent, resided to my fate; walking the three mile walk home with no further species added. Not to be defeated, I decided I'd extend proceedings by checking the other reservoir. 

Empty reservoir 

Checking the bottom reservoir was pointless, there literally wasn't a single bird on it. Absolutely pointless. 

The lack of birds did nothing for my mood and I questioned my life choices as I started to trudge home. 

Then, when I needed it most, a year tick came speeding into view, a small falcon labouring with a prey item. I have no idea what the prey was - perhaps a Skylark or even a Redwing? There was plenty of Redwing around. 

This is the second time I've had Merlin in the same spot - with the previous back in the Covid lockdown days, some years ago. I marched up the hill and then got seconds of the male Merlin as it flew across my view and then away from me. Merlin is a very, very good bird locally and could easily have evaded me all month or indeed year. I only had two records last year, one at Lackford and another at Knetishall Heath:

Merlin - Knettishall Airfield, 30th November 2025

There is some moral to this tale, about not giving up and ensuring you jeep on walking and trying or something... insert your own inspirational quote here.  

On the way home, I checked the muck heap again. Still no Jack Snipe, Richard's Pipit or Eastern Yellow Wagtail!?! Which is ridiculous really. 

Muck heap and nearby pool

Be sure to catch up with the latest Two Jonnies for a summary of the first full week of Foot It and to find out who your Foot It leaders are: