Fieldfares and redwings: the winter thrushes on the chalk
How to tell fieldfares from redwings on the chalk fields round Offley and Lilley: their calls, the berries they strip and the hedges worth watching.
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Bryony Laycock
Bryony spends early mornings on field edges listening for skylarks and yellowhammers. She writes about farmland birds, hares, wild flowers and the life of the hedges.
Pieces by Bryony
Leaving the car behind: group days out by coach, from the chalk to the mountains
Why group outings work better by coach, what to look for from the window on chalk lanes, and how to plan a group trip, from village walks to mountains.
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Water on dry hills: dew ponds, skylarks and the idea of an inland wave
Why chalk hills run short of water, how dew ponds and bird baths draw wildlife, and a few thoughts for families planning a day at an inland surf park.
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Painting the outside of an old house without upsetting the house martins
How to time outside painting on an old cottage around nesting birds, bats and the weather, and what to ask a painter before the ladders go up.
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Choosing binoculars for birding on open farmland
8x42, 10x42 or 8x32? A plain guide to choosing binoculars for farmland birds: exit pupil, field of view, close focus, waterproofing, prisms and eyecups.
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Winter bird feeding for a cottage garden on the chalk
What to feed garden birds in winter, how to keep feeders clean, where to hang them away from cats and glass, and which winter visitors to look out for.
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Farmland birds between Offley and Lilley, season by season
Skylarks, yellowhammers, kites and winter thrushes on the chalk fields between Offley and Lilley: what to look and listen for in each season.
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