NATURE NOTES

Hawfinches

Residents of Leigh and surrounding villages may remember the arrival of hawfinches in November 2017. Although there had been previous sightings, that winter would prove to be exceptional in terms of numbers and their presence which lasted well into March.

The grapevine works quickly in the birding world, especially when such an exotic-looking rarely-seen finch makes an appearance; an envious naturalist in the Midlands alerted me that they were here. During those months, many ‘twitchers’ visited the village hoping for opportunities of sightings and photographs. As news spread and more people were feeding birds, the hawfinches took up temporary residence, the flock increasing in number until sometimes up to thirty individuals could be counted at any one time.

In March, with heavy snowstorms over several days, high numbers of fieldfare and redwing were reported both here and elsewhere all, desperately searching and competing for food as the snow continued to fall. The hawfinch flock moved from garden to garden where seed was offered and could be seen foraging with greenfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch and other less often seen species such as brambling, siskin and reed bunting. The hawfinch has been a UK resident species since the mid-1800s but is now rare with just a handful of scattered breeding population strongholds, mainly in southern England, and here they are on the Red List for conservation species of most concern. A secretive bird that prefers the safety of treetops, their short harsh call, ‘tzik,’ sometimes gives their presence away.

Our largest British finch, identification of such a striking bird is unmistakable – stocky outline in flight with beautiful shades of peach, fawn, dark blue, black bib, eyes outlined in black, with white edged tail and barred wings. The slightly less colourful female lacks the orange head of the male.

They have exceptionally large, powerful bills capable of cracking cherry stones – a favourite food – and Yew berries, hips, haws and fruit stones which form the major part of their diet.

Winter migration driven by depleted food sources elsewhere is the most likely reason why southern counties of England and Wales became host to this charismatic finch. Keeping an extra watchful eye on garden bird visitors and offering food, especially when temperatures drop to help them survive harsh weather, can bring unexpected species.