Skip to main content

Posts

Featured

And a partridge in a pear tree

Everyone's heard the Twelve Days of Christmas song. And most people probably know the words off by heart. Birds feature prominently in the lyrics – a partridge in a pear tree; two Turtle Doves; three French hens; four calling birds; six geese a-laying; and seven swans a-swimming. And it may come as a surprise that some of them can be found around Gatestreet Farm during the festive period … Starting at the top, a partridge in a pear tree is unlikely to be spotted, but a partridge scuttling across a field or taking off from the bottom of a hedgerow is rather a common sight around Gatestreet. Two species occur in Britain: the native Grey Partridge and the introduced Red-legged. The latter is seen often and, in the winter, can form groups – known as coveys – up to 30-strong. Sadly, Grey is far rarer these days, but the land around Gatestreet Farm is one of the few remaining places they remain in Surrey, though they are hard to see. Red-legged Partridge. Even one Turtle Dove would be q...

Latest posts

Making nests

Not long to go

Evergreens

Midsummer silence

Summer chicks

Signs of spring

It's cold outside

Autumn colours

All Change

Autumn Approaching