Hawfinch Watch at Sizergh Castle : 27th March 2015

Hawfinch Watch at Sizergh Castle : 27th March 2015

We had last gone to Sizergh Castle for the Hawfinch Watch in early March 2012 and that had been very successful. There had been several cold winters, however, and the numbers of native birds had been boosted by foreign birds escaping the colder parts of Europe. Since then we had had much milder winters and this had led to many fewer birds around since the. Or, at least, that is what the National Trust warder told us. So it was with a little trepidation that we stood on the cafe verandah – a bunch of around 20 of us – awaiting our first bird. It started off looking not so good as the first forty-five minutes passed without event.

There were Bullfinches and other birds visiting the black sunflower seeds that had been put down for them but not for the moment any Hawfinches even though the warden said he could hear them up int he trees. Needless to say I couldn’t hear anything ! He told us that there had been considerable conflict recently between birders who were largely keeping their distance by remaining on the cafe verandah and bird photographers that insisted on standing in the car park where they normally feed on the ground. The former accused the latter of frightening the birds off and it is easy to imagine this as more and more people come armed with their telephoto lenses but still decide that they need to be that bit nearer. We had heard of this problem earlier in the week from one of the volunteers and Burton Mere Wetlands where they had had to resort to putting a permanent guard on the Long-eared Owl because photographers had been bothering the bird and causing it to flush and even change roost ! At Sizergh this clash of priorities between birders and bird photographers had led to confrontations that had to be sorted out by the wardens. The warden had resorted to coning off the car park on their warden-led watches and people getting too close would be confronted.

Returning to the birds, eventually – and much to everyone’s relief – a  bird did come down to the seeds – and a male at that. He didn’t stay too long but long enough for most people to find it. Those that didn’t connect with that birrd had a bit more of a wait but eventually another bird appeared and roosted a nearby tree for long enough to get scoped views. Another bird came down to the seeds and further single birds could be seen from time to time in the trees.

The warder told us that the previous Saturday he had two hundred people all hoping to see a Hawfinch and not a single bird showed. Amongst our group one or two just kept missing the birds but eventually – mainly by using my telescope which the warder took to finding and focusing – everyone got one or two good looks. This even extended to one girl who works in the cafe who had been there for four years and never managed to see one !

After about 10am people began to drift away but I went looking (in vain) for some Green Woodpeckers in the ant-hill covered field just off to the left of the cafe as you are standing on the verandah. There is a stone wall that runs uphill with fields on either side and on the left side is the field that they can sometimes be seen in. Unfortunately for me I didn’t manage to see any but on my return to the cafe for a cup of tea I did see another pair of Hawfinches at the top of a tree just behind the cafe – a little bit of icing on the cake !

Bird Sightings : Sizergh Castle