As has been usual at Christmas over recent years, Colin Slator led a Christmas walk. This year, our feast wasn’t in a local hostelry due to Covid, but we did indeed enjoy a feast of finches. Acting on information received, we set off down the track of the Ripon Rowel from Bishop Monkton towards Littlethorpe. We had already had great views of Mistle Thrush and Jay in the carpark at Quarry Moor, and a pair of Wagtails welcomed us to Bishop Monkton, one Pied and one Grey. In one of the first fields we saw two Buzzards and two Herons standing stock still looking for invertebrates but further on there were fields with seed crops which were attracting many finches. At first the light made it difficult to see anything except the silhouettes of the many finches but we could hear and see them flying ahead of us in the hedges. However, once we had got ahead of them and the sun behind us, we could see just what we had been missing! Massed ranks of Linnets, Tree Sparrows and Chaffinches, were chattering away with the more elusive Brambling ( look for the white rump, said Colin) and Greenfinches amongst them. A few sentinel Yellowhammers were a delightful addition on our way back and an unexpected mycology find was hundreds of Hare’s Foot Inkcaps sprouting out of two rather large manure heaps.
Once back in the cars we drove to High Batts for a picnic lunch and an afternoon pottering around the peaceful surroundings of High Batts, being fascinated by Colin’s accounts of the recent breeding bird successes, the ongoing management work done by the team and the changes he has witnessed to bird populations over his many years’ association with the reserve. The afternoon warmth had brought out Nuthatches, Marsh Tits, and a singing Wren. Siskins were joining the usual tit species at the feeders. We had a quick look over the Pennycroft site, where Colin had previously counted 270 Curlew in one go, with 60 or 70 having lifted off earlier and quite a few more down in the corner which were out of sight at first, making this quite a substantial wintering flock from Eastern Europe. There were many Lapwings and three Golden Plover in the same part of the site. Colin said that this is only the start of the Pennycroft site and it will improve more over the years.
All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day, with 44 species of bird seen, and to finish with a fine display of lenticular cloud and the promise of a superb sunset. Many thanks to Colin for leading and sharing his local knowledge!
Sue Coldwell
Members watching a mixed finch flock, Bishop Monkton Ings 14Dec21 Nick Gaunt Linnet flock, Bishop Monkton Ings 14Dec21 Nick Gaunt Brambling flock, Bishop Monkton Ings 14Dec21 
Coprinus macrocephalus, Bishop Monkton Ings 14Dec21 Nick Gaunt Members at High Batts LNR, 14Dec21 Colin Slator
