Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs - Common at the meadows and at home. I rarely see more than a few but on 26th February 2020 there was a flock of 50 in one of the fields neighbouring the meadows.
Chaffinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 29th March 2019
Chaffinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th April 2019
Chaffinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th March 2020
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla - Singles at the meadows on 4 dates up to 27th March 2019 when one in song, and another present there on 18th April. None seen there the following winter (a poor season for most finches) but singles seen or heard on 4 dates between 12th October and 23rd November 2020. One heard over the garden on 14th November 2020 and 120 at Lynford on 23rd Febuary 2019. Otherwise smaller numbers recorded at Santon Downham, Burnham Overy, Brancaster, Titchwell and Bintree Wood.
Brambling, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th February 2019
Brambling, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th March 2019
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes - 26 at Lynford on 23rd February 2019.
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula - Common around the meadows and occasionally seen or heard at home.
Bullfinches, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th March 2019
Greenfinch Chloris chloris - Reasonably frequent at the meadows.
Greenfinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 6th February 2019
Greenfinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th November 2020
Spanish birds apparently belong to race chloratica, apparently covering most of the species' Mediterranean range (though some authorities subdivide this into a number of additional races). Although variation between races of Greenfinch is described as slight I think if I saw this at the meadows it would give me quite a shock.
Greenfinch, Gava Mar (Spain), 22nd February 2020
Twite Linaria flavirostris - It's not just the Puffins that make Staffa a worthwhile trip when staying on Mull and a family of Twite nearly made me miss the boat back to Iona.
Twite, Staffa, 11th June 2019
Linnet Linaria cannabina - Common at the meadows although not always present. Counts in 2020 included 47 on 25th March and 32 on 25th October.
Linnet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 7th April 2020
Linnet, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th April 2020
Mealy Redpoll Acanthis flammea - At least one present with Lesser Redpolls at the meadows between 16th February and 1st March 2019. The flock also frequented the garden feeders along Church Lane and was a bit easier to see here. It is possible that more than one Mealy Redpoll was involved in all the sightings, however I couldn't convincingly establish the presence of more than one bird. The subspecific identity of a well-streaked white-rumped Redpoll on 9th June 2019 at Druimsornaig Cemetery on Mull was unclear to me - presumably one of the north-western or hybrid (?) types that seem to breed in the NW isles.
Mealy Redpoll, Church Lane, North Elmham, 16th February 2019
Mealy Redpoll, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th February 2019
Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret - Seen at the meadows between January and early April 2019 with a flock of up to 15 birds present between mid February and mid March. They commuted between the meadows and the garden feeders along Church Lane, and probably also visited Millenium Wood. Towards the end of their stay they also fed in the willows along the railway and beyond. The 2019/20 winter was a complete void for redpolls at the meadows but there were a number of records later in the year starting with one heard on 22nd September and 30 Repdoll sp. and one confirmed Lesser Redpoll on 28th September. There were also a few at home including 12 on 24th October and elsewhere I saw 60 at Bintree Wood on 11th November.
Lesser Redpoll, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th March 2019
Lesser Redpoll, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th October 2020
Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostris - One on the Cumbria/Durham border in December 2019 was my only record.
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis - Common at the meadows and also reasonably frequent at home.
Goldfinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th July 2019
Goldfinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th April 2020
Goldfinch, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th April 2020
Serin Serinus serinus - Plenty of these in Spain.
Serins, Gava Mar, 22nd February 2020
Serins, Llobregat Delta, 22nd February 2020
Siskin Spinus spinus - Small numbers seen regularly at the meadows until late March 2019 then in autumn up to 10 recorded on two dates in October. 10 again on 28th February 2020 but it was a poor winter for this species and other finches. A more unexpected summer record of a pair flying over on 20th July and then numerous records of up to 10 from mid September to the end of the year. Occasionally seen at home and other reasonably local records included another summer record of 2 at Foxley Wood on 11th July 2020 and one at Bintree Wood. Much larger numbers in the Brecks, the Lakes and on Mull.
Siskin, Strathcoil (Mull), 13th June 2019
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LONGSPURS (family CALCARIIDAE)
Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus - At least one at Brancaster on 14th October 2020 and one at Stiffkey on 17th October.
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BUNTINGS (family EMBERIZIDAE)
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella - Common at the meadows though possibly declining even in the short time I've been watching there. Not always easy to find there in the winter.
Yellowhammer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 18th February 2019
Yellowhammer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th November 2019
Yellowhammer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 5th April 2020
Yellowhammer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th April 2020
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus - 2 near Emabalsa de Santa Ana (Spain) in February 2020.
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus - Seen at the meadows reasonably frequently.
That's it for the birds - you can return to the Birds index or go over to my Mothing Diary for my review of 2019-20's non-avian wildlife (starting shortly...)
