It didn't rain at all today, thats news in itself!

As I walked home from work this afternoon, across Migrant Alley, a female sparrowhawk flew just 15ft from me, a foot above the ground, i've not been seeing to much of the Sprawks recently.

My usual afternoon walk to the lake area was somewhat disturbed by a couple of dog walkers who were ahead of me, they turned off the footpath just before the lake, but had already scared off anything in the small holding and wet woods. Once at the lake it was just as I had left it yesterday, a few more MALLARDS had turned up, and three MOORHEN were establishing territories, a CORMORANT sat up in a large fir tree, it's usual perch. In the surrounding vegetation I again found COAL TIT and GOLDCREST, and also a FIELDFARE, unusual to seee one here, it had found some crab apples, and had them all to itself! Both SONGTHRUSH and MISTLE THRUSH were heard to sing from the scrubby area, and a quick look at the feeders in the adjacent garden provided all the common garden birds, BLUE and GREAT TIT, GOLDFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GREENFINCH, as well as a NUTHATCH.

I made a trip over to Migrant Alley in the gathering gloom, the sun was going down already, and it was only 15:30! I decided to sit on my seat and watch the area to see if anything passed over on the way to roost. I didn't wait long before two Cormorants flew over, I watched two dozen BLACK HEADED GULLS feeding out on the sheep pasture, and as I did, 3 SKYLARKS dropped in. A single MEADOW PIPIT flew over, but more interesting were 3 LESSER REDPOLL that went over going N. A cock PHEASANT was moving along the bottom of the tall hedge, which also had a WREN, a DUNNOCK, and ROBIN in it. By now it was getting quite dark, and also a bit cold, so I decided to head of home, as i did so, two groups of PIED WAGTAILS came over, and went onto the Greenhouses, where they roost, about 18 in all, but I'm sure many more will drop in later, also 23 LINNET flew over and circled the Tree Nursery, waiting for the work party to leave before they would settle down into the Laurel to roost. I also watched Chaffinch's and STARLINGS drop into a tall leylandi hedge that borders a garden, as good a place as any to roost up for the night.

Nothing new for the months list then, but i have the weekends morning visits to do yet, - weather permitting, it looks like its gong to be rain, rain, rain again!!!


Above is a Dunnock, which came out of the tall hedge as I sat on my seat at Migrant Alley. Below are the two Cormorant that flew over.

There were some good sunny spells for this afternoons walk - well for the first hour anyway, but as the sun started to go down, a large shower cloud came over and rain fell, by 15:30 I had to call it a day.

There were plenty of birds around the Small Holding again, BULLFINCH, CHAFFINCH, and GOLDFINCH all fed in various shrubs and berry bearing bushes, a GREEN WOODPECKER was on the floor below the pear trees, and two Jays screeched from an Oak. As I was just going into the wet woods I heard the trill of LONG TAILED TITS, I gave them a scan through, just in case something interesting was tagging along with them, but only found BLUE and GREAT TITS.

All was quiet in the wet woods, apart from a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a couple of scurrying MOORHENS, whilst the footpath leading to the lake area had a couple of GOLDCREST up in a conifer tree.

On to the lake, and what would I see today ? Not much is the answer, a lone CORMORANT was fishing there, but only two Moorhens and 8 MALLARD were seen, I think something or someone had already disturbed the area. I decided to go over to Migrant Alley, seeing a TREECREEPER, and a COAL TIT as I walked back into the wet woods.

Upon reaching Migrant Alley I could see the dark shower cloud looming overhead, so only 20mins was spent there, before the rain fell. The only birds of note were a couple of dozen BLACKHEADED GULLS and a MEADOW PIPIT sitting on the Greenhouse rooves.

So I still need four new species for the month, and just four more days to get them!

I took a few pics today, these are my efforts - in order of descending light!


Above: Male Chaffinch

Above and below : Coal Tit

Below: Meadow Pipit

Lastly a typical view of a TREECREEPER, as it moves round to the opposite side of the tree!

I left for this afternoons patch walk in slightly better conditions than I have been used to of late, it was still on the windy side, but there were at least some sunny spells to be had. It was during such a sunny spell that I reached the small holding, where there was quite a bit of bird activity, 8 CHAFFINCH and a similar number of GOLDFINCH were around the pear trees, 3 BULLFINCH were in a bordering garden hedge, and a flock of mixed Tits, including at least 11 LONG TAILED, 6 GREAT, and 4 BLUE with a lone TREECREEPER in tow, were moving through the area.

Just two MALLARDS and a calling GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were in the wet woods, and nothing much more was seen right until I reached the lake area. Once again I was eager to see if anything new had turned up there, but as is so often the case I was to be disappointed, still, if I found something new on every trip to the lake I'd only get bored! I did see at least 25 Mallard, and a few MOORHEN - as usual. I thought I would have time for a trip to Migrant Alley this afternoon, but as i looked across the lake, and skywards, I could see a huge black shower cloud coming over, so I decided I would sit out the rain in one of the run down shacks that over look the lake. Within a few minutes blackness decended, the wind got up to gale force and heavy driving rain came crashing down. As I watched the rain bouncing of the lakes surface during the worst of the shower, I caught something from the corner of my eye, it dropped in from the storm, a heron, I thought, a white heron - no, a LITTLE EGRET! Thats how heavy the rain was, I could hardly make out the pure white bird as it struggled to make a landing in amongst the overhanging trees. I couldn't see it from where I was, but as the rain eased, I went round to a better vantage point, and got a photo of it, then as I tried to move a bit closer, the Egret took of and went on it's way again. What a bit of luck! To have such a scarce bird for my patch drop in to sit out a shower, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time - thats 63 for the November list now, just four more new species in the next five days will take the November record, unlikely, but I might just do it ?

The last Littel Egret I had on my patch was on july 12th, but I also recorded one on March 14th they were flyovers, but on April 19th, one alighted in the same overhanging trees at the lake as todays bird, maybe it is the same bird ?


Above and below: One of the Long Tailed Tits at the small holding

below is a view through the wet woods - very bleak, even with the sun trying to shine

Lastly, the Little Egret, not much of a photo, but its the best I could do!

Once again the weather was a feature on my afternoon patch walk today, though not as wet, there was a strong, and strengthening southerly wind blowing, but the showers remained light and squally.

Despite the conditions, I was again itching to get out and check the lake over, after yesterdays Little Grebe sighting I was feeling lucky! I passed through the small holding, and saw a flock of mixed CHAFFINCH and GOLDFINCH, they were tossed around like dried leaves in the wind, but managed to perch up in a hawthorn bush, where I checked them out unsuccessfully for for an elusive Brambling. A GREEN WOODPECKER, JAY and PIED WAGTAIL were under the pear trees, and a few BLUE and GREAT TITS were around the hedge.

I reached the wet woods, and was relieved not to have the wind blasting into me, but the roar of it in the tree tops meant the high pitched calls of any Goldcrest or Treecreeper that might have been there would be impossible to hear, but the much louder, stronger, ''kek'' of the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER was heard. As I came out of the woods, and walked the footpath that leads to the lake area, I checked the well wooded gardens on each side of me, hoping to flush up a Woodcock, as I have done once in the past, or maybe locate a feeding flock of Long tailed tits, with a Firecrest among them, which I have also had the fortunate experience of doing - you can tell how optimistic I felt today! However neither happened, and I eagerly reached the lake, anticipating finding something different, or just to re-find yesterdays Grebe or sundays Coot. Upon scanning the water I was brought back down with a bump, it was back to MALLARDS and MOORHENS ! I counted 48 of the former and 7 of the later, and despite hanging around and continually checking the overhanging tree line, I couldn't find the Grebe. It may have been hiding up, as they can be very elusive, hopefully it was, and i'll find it again later this week.

I checked the garden feeders of the nearby house, finding the feeders empty, but in some alder trees close by was a small group of SISKIN, the scrubby area close by held a few BULLFINCH, but thats all I could find, the wind was making it impossible to pick out any bird calls, except that of the overwintering MARSH TIT, that ''pitchooed'' from a nearby hawthorn.

After only being out for around 90 mins, thick dark cloud came over, and a splattering of rain arrived, time for me to head off home, it was almost dark by 15:45! So no more new species were found for the November list, but I think Ive still got some enthusiasm left to get out again tomorrow. :-)

I got home from work this afternoon, and as I ate lunch, the sky darkened and the wind got up, then it threw it down - nothing new there then!

I was determined to get out though, and inspired by yesterdays Coot, at the lake, and the sighting of the months first Little owl, I trudged off out, just to visit the lake area. Unsurprisingly I saw very little as the wind blown rain lashed aginst me, a few GREAT TITS in a garden hedge by the small holding, that had more sense than me were sheltering from the worst of the elements, and a JAY screeched from the orchard, as if to mock me. I was pleased to get to the wet woods for a respite from the wind, but the leafless trees did nothing to shelter me from the heavy rain, the pools in the woods are filling nicely now, and I saw 4 MALLARD dabbling on one of the larger ones, maybe there will still be time yet to record a November Teal here.

Upon reaching the lake I was soaked through, and what did I get for my efforts ? Well, as I sheltered from the rain in an old outbuilding that coveniently overlooks most of the lake, I saw through the broken windows, 8 Mallard and 4 MOORHEN on the initial scan, but then I saw a CORMORANT surface, it had caught a decent size fish, and swallowed it down, a bit more scanning produced nothing more, and I looked out the other side of the building, which has a view of some of the scrubby area, there I watched a male CHAFFINCH enjoying the wet weather, and 4 BULLFINCH'S doing the same, but everything else was sheltering.

The rain then died down a bit, and I thought i'd get home before the next downpour, however, I thought i'd just give the lake one more scan, and I was glad I did, because as I scanned along the overhanging tree branches, I saw my first LITTLE GREBE (109) of the year, fantastic! This years total really has smashed last years record of 106 species, I think next year is going to be hard work. :-)

This is the first Little Grebe I have recorded since an individual over wintered in 07/08, that one arrived on 31 Dec. 07 and stayed around until the 29th of Mar. 08, so maybe this one will stick around for the Dec. list!

Whilst looking at my stats, I also saw that this is the first Little Grebe to be recorded in any November, bringing the cumulative November total for the 8 years to 78. Not surprisingly this is the second lowest cumulative monthly total, but what is surprising, is it now puts the month of August at the bottom, with just 77 species for the 8 years, surely this is one month I will improve on next year!

No pics again today, the weather was just too awful to even take the camera out!!

I had to let a heavy shower pass before leaving for my patch walk this morning, but in the 3 hour visit I got lucky and only two more heavy showers came through, before they turned back to back downpours later on.

A total of 43 species was seen today, 3 of these were not seen yesterday, firstly a
SPARROWHAWK, secondly that most rare bird for my patch a COOT! This is the second one this month, I am very impressed, as no Coot has ever been recorded in November before! I was also happy with the third species as it was new for this month, a LITTLE OWL, it flew from the edge of the wet woods as I walked Marchants field ( what was part of the tree nursery).

I had good views of both TREECREEPER and GOLDCREST as they fed along the footpath from the wet woods to the lake, but it was too dull to photograph them. A group of 5 BULLFINCH'S flew from the lakeside scrub, and a flock of 11 FIELDFARE flew over whilst I was there, the only ones seen this morning.

At Migrant Alley 7 SKYLARKS, two YELLOWHAMMERS and a single MEADOW PIPIT were on the sheep pasture, and the nearby college sports pitch had 38 BLACK HEADED GULLS and 9 HERRING GULLS feeding on it.
REDWING and SISKIN were seen, but they and the Fieldfare were the only species that gave my walk a wintery flavour.

So the months list moves on to 61, just 6 more new species needed for a new November record total, but with only 2 more full walks of my patch left and 5 short afternoon visits, I think it's a challenge too far. :-)

A break in the weather this morning made for a refreshing change, no wind or rain! A good selection of species was recorded, 46 in all, but still nothing new for the months list.

Pick of the bunch were, two seperate flocks of SISKIN, one at the stream adjacent to the college grounds, another over in one of the large gardens by the lake area, both flocks were feeding in Alder trees, and invloved around 20 birds in each flock. The MARSH TIT was seen feeding with a mixed flock, and a lone LESSER REDPOLL flew over the wet woods, where two TREECREEPERS were seen. The only raptor seen today was a KESTREL, hunting over the greenhouses.

A few more winter thrushes were seen flying over, three seperate groups of REDWING, the largest being of 15 birds, and FIELDFARE went over in varying size groups, from 1 to 27. Other noteworthy sightings were 4 BULLFINCH, feeding on Sycamore keys, and a group of 5 YELLOWHAMMER in one of the newer hedges at Migrant Alley.

In all a much better patch visit!

Below is a PIED WAGTAIL that was seen on the Greenhouses
The sun tried to come out for an hour around midday, so I took some photo's of the garden birds at my feeders.

Below is the best view I had of the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

...................and below a DUNNOCK

.........................next a GREAT TIT

.......................and then the ever present GOLDFINCH

........................with GREENFINCH

..........................and a male CHAFFINCH

.....................mixed finch's, tits and a HOUSE SPARROW

..............................a couple of COLLARED DOVES

...........lastly a ROBIN