Bird Survey – December 2022 My recent visit to Haugh Farm.was on a chilly and rather misty morning in early December.  Winter has arrived late this year, so it was good to find more winter migrants using the fields and, walls and hedgerows.  The biggest count was of Redwing, with a large flock of about 30 birds, and a few others scattered around.  The latter were accompanied by their larger cousin, the Fieldfare.  There were plenty of Blackbirds and a couple of Song Thrush too.  The fields obviously contain a good food supply, as a flock of about 40 Starling was also feeding, enthusiastically pushing beaks into the soft ground in search of invertebrates.  They were joined by some Meadow Pipits, which were picking up the smaller prey.  Quite a few Bullfinch were calling, quietly, from the thicker hedgerows, which sheltered the usual Robins and tit species.  It was great to see a Brown Hare race across one of the fields.  Avian Flu Avian Influenza has been in the news quite a bit lately, mainly because of concerns about the supply of eggs, chickens and turkeys for consumption.  However, this virus is also having a devastating effect on our wild bird populations.  Outbreaks occur most winters but are usually very local and disappear once Spring arrives.  The strain that arrived in the UK over the winter of 2021/22 is much more virulent and, having seriously affected breeding colonies of wild birds, is still continuing into this winter.  Full details about this outbreak, what you can do if you find a dead bird, and related information can be found here.