Monday 22nd December 9:00 a.m.
Christmas time at BETland
The Monday before Christmas is always a grand affair for the BET volunteers as it is our Christmas get-together. This means that instead of working for 2 hours we get to work for just 1, and then repair to the cabin for an early treat of Christmas music, tea, coffee, mince pies and other Christmas treats. Ian will light the fire and we will all toast another successful and cheerful volunteer year.
It just so happens that this particular Monday has dawned beautifully clear and is a reasonably warm 11 degrees. The skies are blue and the birds are singing in abundance. Whilst the volunteers scythe and rake the Layers Meadow I can’t resist heading into the woods to see and to listen.
As I head up the steps next to the Cabin I can hear so much birdsong it takes me a moment to single them out. High above me in the trees I can hear the cheerful chatter of Jackdaws. To the left and right, darting all over, I can see and hear the distinctive chunter of busy Blue Tits. To my left, hidden from within the bushes and small trees, I can catch the single note chirps of the Redwing. There is a Robin by me singing loudly, a Magpie scolding, two Blackbirds having their usual argument and above all these – louder and prouder – is the wonderful sound of the Song Thrush.
Song Thrushes have been such a source of delight and conversation these last two weeks. A shy, retiring bird, except when it perches on the top of a tall branch and belts out its melodious song, these birds are generally expected to sing out between spring and summer – the breeding season. But to our delight Song Thrushes all over North Somerset have been singing in notable numbers these last few weeks. Surveys are regularly noting 3 to 5 singing Song Thrushes per patch. They are definitely challenging the Robin this year as the festive songster!
And on the subject of Thrushes, it is a point of note that nature is having a mast year in 2025. This happens every few years and means we have a bumper crop of berries, acorns and seeds. Our long dry summer and wet autumn may very well be part of the cause. All thrushes, which include Redwing, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, love winter berries and BETland has had a super crop.
So it is no surprise to find a good number of Redwing in our woods and surrounding fields. Not in large flocks but smaller gatherings where they sit together or dart around, enjoying the fare and chip, chirping in communication.
The lure of a cup of tea and a mince pie draws me back to the Cabin but I can’t pass the quarry without pausing for a moment to listen. The acoustics around the quarry are wonderful on dry, crisp days and sounds from afar are clear. A squeak from a Robin, more Blackbirds having a lively discussion, some Crows passing over head whilst the Jackdaws enjoy the thermals and finally, as I head off the deep cooing of a Stock Dove. What a lovely way to end my bird check and to head into 2026. It has been another tough year for wildlife, with more extremes of temperature, but once again they have pulled through to delight us in the months and year ahead.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
