Sunday 25 January 2009

HAWFINCHES IN OXFORDSHIRE

There was a very impressive flock of some 19 HAWFINCHES at Blenheim Palace yesterday morning. In their usual spot at the top of the tall tree in the vicinity of the railway shed and Garden centre. I actually found it best to view from south of the palace as it gave a better view of the trees the hawfinches where in. Though whereever I viewed from, they were quite distant would have been difficult to view properly without a scope. I don't know whether it was a pattern they usually follow but the number built up from when I first got there at 10 until around 10:30 when they all flew off south. As they spend most of the time (or at least seen most) near the top of the tall tree, they are probably best viewed on a day which is not too windy (Tom Wickens)