Amongst the most likely birds to be seen in the gardens, woodlands and fields alonside the Emm are flocks of roaming Tits and Fnches (such as Chaffinch and Brambling).
These are often joined by the occasional Tree creeper and Nuthatch.
With every year that passes there are more reports of Blackcaps and even Chiffchaffs over wintering; you may be lucky to see them amongst these flocks.
Rooks and Crows seem to be everywhere once out of town, and Jays and Magpies are hard to miss also.
At night Tawny owls may be heard staking out territory, with both the male and the female birds creating the classic owl 'tu-wit tu-who'.
Love them or hate them, huge numbers of woodpigeons will be on the move within December. Individual flocks can number in the tens of thousands.
The movement is generally from the north to the south-west and is most obvious on clear cold days with light winds.
We aren't really sure where these birds come from or where they are going to but it would seem likely that they are moving from northern Europe and are making their way to France and possibly southern Europe.
When this migration is underway it is a very impressive sight and one that a lot of people overlook.
