Kestrel, kite and goldcrest spotted on 4.5-mile nature walk around Much Hadham in East Hertfordshire

Nature Notes columnist Jono Forgham covers your fortnightly look at nature around Bishop’s Stortford

On a recent trip to North Norfolk, my car broke down and it had to be towed to a repair shop, where it became apparent that the cost of mending the vehicle was not worth it, so it was scrapped. Consequently, I headed out for my fortnightly wander on the local Little Hadham bus service to Much Hadham.

Having bought provisions at the village shop, I checked the nearby allotments. Here, I flushed a cock pheasant, but little else was to be seen, so I headed to the driveway that is a public footpath and leads to fields in front of Moor Place. This path is almost opposite the school and adjacent to the war memorial.

Several imposing oaks by the entrance often have a selection of birds roosting in them. Today there were carrion crows, rooks, jackdaws and several magpies.

The sky was cloudless and so it was good light for photography, although the temperatures were low, meaning I had donned my heavy winter coat for the first time this season, along with my woollen hat. It was a glorious autumnal morning that highlighted the superb array of colours of the leaves, particularly the beech trees.

In the distance, I noted the silhouette of a common buzzard posing at the top of a dead branch. Unfortunately, the sun was directly behind the bird, making for a poor photo. I tried to move closer but it was spooked by a few dogs that were trundling around in the field.

A red kite moved overhead effortlessly, riding the breeze. Rather too high for a photo but, to make up for this, a nearby kestrel was hovering over some long grass. This was certainly in range and I fired off some shots. Just as I completed them, the bird dived into the grass and re-emerged shortly after, clutching a rodent in her talons.

Kestrels are superbly adapted to their style of hunting. Human eyes can distinguish around 26 shades of green whereas a kestrel can see over 250 shades. This means that when a mouse or vole moves through the grass it is very obvious to the kestrel.

Normally, when you see a kestrel hovering, it is watching its prey and just waiting for the correct moment to pounce. Also, mice are basically incontinent and their pee reflects ultraviolet light and kestrels’ eyes are capable of seeing ultraviolet. So, even if it cannot see the mouse, it knows it is there. The fresher the urine, the brighter the glow, which the kestrel sees as bright yellow.

I moved on and soon encountered a tree species I hadn’t seen for a long while: a Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia). A member of the walnut family, it hails from Turkey and is non-native to the UK. The seeds are edible but frequently are damaged by frost before they reach maturity. The only other trees of this species I know of locally are in the Botanical Gardens at Cambridge.

I had now spent nearly an hour in these two fields, so it was time to move on. I ended up walking up Kettle Green Road for a few yards before accessing a footpath on the right. This went through a garden before a left turn took me along field margins.

Here, the winter wheat was doing well. A treecreeper disappeared from view before I could raise the camera, and soon I was on Cox’s Lane, where I turned right.

Overhead was a familiar bird call that I hadn’t heard since last spring: the “chack chack” of a fieldfare. These winter visitors to our shores are just arriving at present from Scandinavia, usually accompanied by another thrush species, the redwing. A little further along I came across a small, mixed flock of these, the good light permitting me to grab a pleasing photo.

The Tarmac road gave way to a track and here, on the right, was a small pond that was worth checking. A green woodpecker called as it departed.

I heard the wispy call of goldcrests and, sure enough, in a sycamore tree, a small party were busy feeding. Almost constantly on the move, these birds can be really tricky to photograph, so I focused on one specific leaf and waited for a bird to land on or near it. I fired off loads of shots (100+) as this tiny bird, Britain’s smallest, alighted upon the leaf. Fortunately, a few were sharp enough for inclusion here.

This path then meanders along, bordered by high, mainly hazel, hedges, which offered respite from the now steady breeze; too windy for smaller birds to be seen posing on branches that were swaying.

I arrived at a junction: right for Much Hadham, left for Latchford and Standon. I headed right, making a note that one day I shall explore the path that heads to Standon Lordship and environs. This would be a new route for me.

The path here was very colourful, with leaf litter and several species of plants that showed photogenic seed heads in the wonderful sunlight.

Rosebay willowherb and greater burdock were particularly prevalent. Hogweed was still in flower, but an inspection of the petals showed no insects busy feeding. Too windy for them to be on the wing.

It was clear that over the last few years work has been going on to improve the small woodland area here. Some trees have been felled and hazels coppiced. Always pleasing to see log piles and some good woodland management.

I arrived at a left-hand turn. Carrying straight on would take me back to the High Street, not far from The Bull, whilst taking the left turn onto grass fields would offer me the chance of finding more things to photo.

I opted for the latter and was soon impressed by a spindle tree absolutely laden with pink seed coverings. These had now dried out and split, showing the bright orange seeds inside.

More winter thrushes overhead as I wandered around the field margins before entering another garden. Here, I disturbed a resting buzzard that headed off somewhat indignantly.

I then noted an insect upon a dandelion. I swapped lenses to get a snap of the Episyrphus balteatus (marmalade hoverfly). Almost certainly one of the last I shall see until next April. This one was very sluggish, not enjoying the colder temperatures, and an overnight frost will finish it off.

Just as I completed getting these shots, a red kite appeared low, directly over me. A quick change of lens and I managed to grab a few bonus snaps before it was gone. In breezy conditions, this bird can fly effortlessly with no wingbeats and just change direction by moving the tail feathers.

The path deposited me on New Barns Lane. I headed downhill, noting plenty of rabbit burrows but no rabbits. Sadly, the disease RHD (rabbit hemorrhagic disease) – a highly infectious and lethal form of viral hepatitis – is very prevalent and has decimated the rabbit population. On walks nowadays I rarely observe a rabbit and see far more hares. Twenty years ago, this would certainly not have been the case.

I finally arrived back in Much Hadham after a 4.5-mile wander in absolutely perfect walking weather. Not huge amounts found, but some pleasing sightings, nevertheless. I was particularly pleased to photograph the kestrel, kite and goldcrest.

A quick check of the time showed I had nearly an hour before the next bus, so I thought a pint in The Bull would be a cracking idea. Sadly, it was closed, so I headed back to the bus stop, where I was fortunate to be offered a lift by a resident of Little Hadham. Thank you, Brenda.