The final visit of the month took place in dull, humid and at times wet conditions. A thunderstorm was raging to the south of my patch, but it didn't arrive overhead. The hunt for at least one more species new to the month, to equal the high of 71 achieved in April 2006 and again in April this year, was a failure. The day total only reached 40 species, conditions were just not with me.
There were some brighter moments birdwise, the BARN OWL was seen at its roost, and a YELLOW WAGTAIL flew over migrant alley.
A second visit later in the afternoon, mainly to migrant alley, was a successful one in the respect that I located 3 Yellow Wagtails feeding in the paddocks, also I added COAL TIT, SKYLARK and LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL to the day list.

So Augusts species total ended on 70, an excellent total, and in itself is a record for August, easily beating last years high of 66. The combined total for all Augusts is 77, with the average figure for the month now 62.5. Four new species new to August were found - Reed Warbler, Common Tern, Barn Owl and Peregrine. I wonder what September will bring? The highest species total for the coming month is 70 - the chase is on!

The 3 pics. below are of the 3 Yellow Wagtails that turned up at Migrant Alley this afternoon.

This morning I had the good fortune to be able to help my local ringer, so no visit was made to the patch. We caught 25 birds in 4hours, the star bird being a migrant SEDGE WARBLER. Also of note were 5 Juv. BULLFINCH, nice to see local bred birds.
If you get a chance to help out a bird ringer I can really recommend it.

I'll be out early tomorrow morning for the final Aug. patch visit. I need just one more new species for the month to equal the highest monthly total ever recorded, 2 would be great!!


Above and below: The migrant Sedge Warbler.

Next is a Chiffchaff.Then a Common Whitethroat

Last of all one of the juv. Bullfinch

A CHIFFCHAFF sang from the College grounds this morning, the first heard singing for quite some time, and probably quite likely one of the last. Also 5 MISTLE THRUSH'S flew from a fir tree, they have been scarce the in last few weeks. Not much else to report on my daily walk to and from work.
This afternoon's trip to Migrant Alley was abandoned on reaching it, the stable lass's were out with tractors and strimmers ''Tidying'' the fields, what for ? it's like vacuuming the garden ! I did however get a good view, and a couple of pics of a flyover HOBBY as I was coming home.
I made a cup of tea and did some garden birdwatching. I was alomost immediately visited by the first Chiffchaff to use my garden this year, species number 33 to do so. Other visitors included 2 COAL TITS, and a NUTHATCH - all in fresh plumage, and a not so handsome GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER still moulting it's head feathers. Flyovers noted were 2 CORMORANT, 5 HERRING GULLS and a GREY HERON, as well as the local SWALLOWS, now numbering 40 - 50.



The two pics below are of the Hobby, below them is the Nuthatch, then a Coal Tit (again!)

Same Weather, same birds! Everything seems to have come to a standstill migrant wise. This morning there were a few HOUSE MARTINS on the overhead wires at the horse stables, just a dozen or so, probably all local birds.
A trip round the tree nursery and migrant alley didn't hold any surprises, a COMMON WHITETHROAT, and 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS were at the nursery, along with the usual WRENS, DUNNOCKS and ROBINS. The hedgerow leading to migrant alley has plenty of blackberries and elder berries, but not much eating them! Just a lone CHIFFCHAFF was found. Migrant alley had the local flock of LINNETS, a dozen PIED WAGTAILS were very active, and I am sure I heard a YELLOW WAGTAIL call as it flew over, but I wasn't sure - the starlings on the power lines seem to be mimicking the wagtail calls! A large female SPARROWHAWK flew across the fields, and put up everything, ROOKS, Linnets, Wagtails, Starlings, all went into panic mode, the smaller birds went into the Maize crop for cover. A single CORMORANT flew overhead, as did a GREY HERON, but that was about it for today.

This pristine, freshly moulted COAL TIT was in the garden later on

One of the 100's of rooks going over

Above and below are a couple of Small White Butterflies, the only butterfly species seen today.

Dull was the weather, and dull was the walk in to work, followed by more dullness when I walked back home again!
I thought about doing a garden birdwatch for the afternoon, but the thought of maybe missing a migrant tempted me back out again. I walked through the tree nursery, and saw nothing but a GREEN WOODPECKER, the Barn Owl wasn't home, and the hedgerow leading up to Migrant alley had just a DUNNOCK in it. At Migrant Alley itself my hope of a migrant or two were not fourth coming. The cretin shooter was again blasting away, across the valley 300m away, I looked through my bins at where he had placed his decoy birds, and saw a pigeon, spiral down, the sound of the shot reached me a second or two later, the poor pigeon fell to the ground and flapped about for a minute or so, not quite dead. I hope the bloke has a fatal car accident on the way home. Harsh ? well we all have our own opinions.
Anyway, his shots put up, in my estimation, over 1000 Corvids. ROOKS, JACKDAWS and CARRION CROWS filled the sky, ive never seen so many! The only other birds of note today at Migrant Alley were the LINNET flock, the STARLING flock, over 100 strong, and a dozen or so PIED WAGTAILS. Lets hope things improve tomorrow, and this stubborn cloud breaks up a bit!

Mixed corvid flock. This pic shows just a section of them, I couldn't get them all in the frame!

At home I sat and watched the feeders for a while, just the usual Tits and Finch's and this colour ringed HOUSE SPARROW.

Back to work today, so there was just the half hour walk into work this morning to try and find some migrants. The paddocks and maize crop at Migrant Alley were quiet - just the usual PIED WAGTAILS, LINNETS and GOLDFINCHES. Much scanning of the fence posts and grass didn't produce any passage migrants, and watching the SWALLOW flock above, I couldn't see any Sand martin.
As I walked back across the area, 5hours later I found a WHEATEAR sitting on top of a fence post, things were looking up. I walked home and got my camera, thinking I would get some wheatear photo's. After much scanning of the fields i again found the Wheatear, but there was a little brown bird with it - another WHINCHAT ! It flew up onto the fence rail, and was promptly joined by another one!! Great stuff 2 Whinchat and a Wheatear. Migrant Alley was producing again!
As well as the 'star' birds, there was a now growing flock of linnets, 30 - 40 in all, alot of them were young birds, which is good to see. I spent most of the time out just watching and enjoying the 3 Migrant birds, and trying to get close enough for a decent photo, which i failed to do.

Blimey!! 2 Whinchats. I'm being spoilt rotten this month.

I could only get to within 30meters, so the pics aren't very good, but it will still be nice to go back and look at these on a cold Decemder evening.

Below is a shot of some the Linnet flock, which flew up in front of me.

The excitement of the last few visits wasn't repeated this morning. It was a case of trying to find the resident bird species. Very few birds were seen, one of the few brighter moments was coming across a mixed species feeding flock, containing at least 8 LONG TAILED TITS, 4 BLUE TITS, 4 GREAT TITS, a NUTHATCH, a TREECREEPER and a COAL TIT. CHIFFCHAFF and COMMON WHITETHROAT were the only warbler species located, and on the raptor front just a SPARROWHAWK was seen. The BARN OWL was in his now 'usual' roost, but no Little Owls were found.
Migrant Alley was very quiet, just a few PIED WAGTAILS, mixed corvids, and the busy SWALLOWS feeding overhead. 45 species were seen, not too bad a tally for the day, the 3 species of gull and 2 geese species padded the day list out a bit!

Speckled Wood butterflies were the only species to brave the dull, windy conditions today

This Swallow probably can't wait to get back to Africa, and some sunshine!

An hour or so watching the feeders, and it was evident where most of the sunflower hearts were going. I had a peak count of 18 GREENFINCH!

A day trip to the beach prevented me from the usual patch walk today. However, I have just got back from a half hour walk round Migrant Alley, where a lone WHEATEAR was seen. Also there, were small flocks of LINNET, GOLDFINCH, and PIED WAGTAILS feeding in the paddocks. A group of 30-40 SWALLOWS and a few HOUSE MARTINS were overhead, and as I neared home, I again saw the PEREGRINE, soaring to the north, being mobbed by Swallows.
Normal sevice will be resumed tomorrow!!

The sun was out from the off today, and my recent purple patch of sightings carried on. The first half of my walk, as regular readers may know, is mainly wooded, the major habitats are the golf course hedgerow, the lake area, the wet woods and a small holding. At this time of year they take on a bit of a back seat to the second half of the walk, in which, I usually find passage migrants. I still do do the wooded part though, as I record species that dont occurr on the farmland, and always try to get a new high species count, for the day.
Today I did record my highest species count for a single visit. A total of 55 species were seen in a little over 4hrs. Amazingly it could have been higher, such species as Songthrush and Little Owl were not seen.
There were lots of highlights, the BARN OWL was at it's roost, a migrant WHEATEAR was at Migrant Alley, along with 2 YELLOW WAGTAILS - PIED and GREY WAGTAILS were also seen, the latter a new addition for the months list. Today was only the second time I have recorded all 3 Wagtail species in a single visit. Another good achievement, was the sighting of 5 species of raptor! SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL, HOBBY, BUZZARD, and PEREGRINE. The Peregrine was another months first, it hasn't been seen since the 15th June. I actully witnessed it thumping a pigeon out of the sky! It struggled to fly off with it, and the weight of its prey pulled it down into the sports field at the college. I couldn't see it from my view point, but it must of been interrupted, as a few seconds later it was up again, less the pigeon. The spectacle wasn't over however, as then a Hobby came down and saw off the Peregrine!
Its going to be quite a downer when things on my patch return to normal!!

This looks to me like an old female, common darter. my ID skills on dragonflies are still in their infancy!

This Starling above, has almost lost its Juv. plumage, just a bit of brow left on the head.

Another Wheatear at Migrant Alley. I can't resist getting a pic. if at all possible

One of the two Yellow wagtails at Migrant Alley. They aren't particularly yellow at this time of year, especially the young ones. (but they do wag their tails!)

I was fortunate to get a snap of this Lesser Whitethroat. They don't usually hang around to long.


The pics, below show 3 of the 5 raptor species seen today. top is a Kestrel, middle is a Hobby and the bottom is the Peregrine.

Again it was raining when I left for my patch walk this morning, but it did stop after 20mins, thereafter it became bright and warm.
As yesterday, all the bird action was at Migrant Alley, and the tree nursery. It was in the tree nursery that I came across a patch of young trees with some bramble growing through it, it was only the size of a tennis court, but it was full of birds - BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, DUNNOCK, at least 4 COMMON WHITETHROAT, and best of all a newcomer for the months list a REED WARBLER. I managed a few pics of it, but they didn't turn out too good! This species is a really good record for my patch.
I checked the Barn Owl roost - no one home, and went on to migrant alley. As I was walking up the side of the maize crop, I felt in need of a pee! So I ventured a little way into the crop, I tucked my Bins and camera into my fleece and zipped it up so the wet leaves wouldn't get to them. As I stood there, a movement caught my eye - a SEDGE WARBLER, only a few feet away, and then it came even closer, I could almost of reached out and touched it! Alas by the time I'd finished my business, and fought to get my camera out, the bird had flown, blast! What a missed opportunity. Oh well, still a good migrant to have on my patch, I don't record them every year.
After such a fortuitous meeting, I carried on and scanned the paddocks in a positive mood, and found 2 more YELLOW WAGTAILS, no sign of yesterdays Wheatear though.
After a quick lunch, I was back out at migrant alley. A CORMORANT and a GREY HERON flew over, and in the scrub at the north end of the maize I found a LESSER WHITETHROAT. On returning down the other side of the maize, I found another, or the same WHINCHAT that was there yesterday, I got a few pics and left it in peace. A KESTREL hovered over the grass field, next to the maize, the grass was now getting it's 3rd cut of the year! As I took pics of the Kestrel, another Yellow Wagtail flew over and alighted next to the greenhouse complex.
It had been another excellent day on my patch, and I'd spent 7hrs out in the fields, but one more treat was instore - the first COMMON BUZZARD since June, was seen soaring nigh over Migrant alley just as I was heading home, making the day list up to 52 species, a brilliant total.

Above and below: Another Whinchat, or yesterdays bird?

Below is the Kestrel, Hovering over Migrant Alley

two shots of the Reed Warbler are below.

Overnight rain left everything dripping wet, so I started the walk with the farmland. I was almost immediately treated to a WHEATEAR in the tree nursery, only the second one recorded here, pleased with this find, and again seeing the BARN OWL at its roost, the day couldn't get much better..........so I thought! I was barely into migrant alley when the distinct call of a YELLOW WAGTAIL was heard, I watched it come over and alight in the sheep pasture, as I watched it through my bins, I could see the SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS flitting just above, and was pleased to again find a SAND MARTIN with them, 3 migrant species in 40 mins, great going! A few meters on and another migrant, this time a SEDGE WARBLER (93), I heard it in the Maize crop, but couldn't see it, I waited around for 20mins or so and finally got a brief look at it, excellent ! another species for the year list, this was turning out to be one of those special visits. I carried on my walk, along the stream and through the college grounds, picking up common resident species, and it was at the college another close encounter with a HOBBY was had as it dashed low through the trees. I came out of the college and crossed the sports pitch back on to migrant alley, and there I found another 4 Yellow Wagtails! I took some photo's and went along to the Maize crop, not only were there another 2 Wheatear here, but a also a WHINCHAT! Migrant Alley really came up with the goods today. Whilst watching and photographing the Whinchat, all the Swallows went crazy above me, I looked up to see another - or the same Hobby, just 5 mins later a SPARROWHAWK caused the same commotion in the swallow ranks. Another migrant not seen for a while was a lone TURTLE DOVE in the scrub at the north end of Migrant Alley. A day to remember on my patch!!

Above and Below. A Whinchat, I could only get to within 30 meters of it.

Below, is another Wheatear photo.

The next shot is of two wheatears, not very good, but I wont get many chances to photo two together!

Here's two of the four Yellow Wagtails I found in the horse paddocks

if you look carefully you can pick out 3 of the Yellow Wagtails in this photo below. They feed right up to horses mouth, grabbing any insects that are disturbed

A Hobby Below

And lastly the Sparrowhawk that followed the hobby through.

This mornings walk round the patch was pretty dreary! I found it difficult to find even the most common resident birds, and the only Warbler seen was a CHIFFCHAFF. Some species put on a show though, there were 50 CANADA GEESE with a lone GREY LAG GOOSE, feeding in a recently cropped field of barley, (until the cretin shooter arrived) and whilst at the golfcourse, around 60 HERRING GULLS flew NW. The only other note worthy bird was the BARN OWL, tucked up in his roost (until the tractor arrived to cut and ''tidy'' the nearby fields)
I went out again this afternoon, from 13:00 unti 15:30. I sat over in the fields at migrant alley and witness a short spell of migration with 4 SAND MARTIN (3 and a single), 4 YELLOW WAGTAIL, and 3 SWIFT (2 and a single) . As well as these I added CORMORANT and BLACK HEADED Gull to the day list, which ended on 47.

Above: Pied Wagtail at Migrant Alley

Above: A pair of Ruddy Darters Mating

Above: A male Ruddy darter (having a rest!)

I got another wet collar on the way into work this am, and very little was noted during my walk in. This afternoon brightened up a bit, so I headed off out, first of all round to check the lake area, and the scrubby bit next to it, then again off to Migrant Alley. At the lake, just MALLARDS were present, with the odd MOORHEN, and along the edges of the lake, a mixed flock of GREAT, BLUE and LONG TAILED TITS fed together, with singles of CHIFFCHAFF, GOLDCREST and TREECREEPER.
At Migrant Alley there was no sign of Wheatears or Whinchats, but plenty of LINNETS (flock of 15) and GOLDFINCH (flock of 21), also, overhead I counted 5 SWIFT going south, and later a single went over, with a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL. I'm off work now till next tues. so plenty of migrant hunting to be had!

Above, a Goldfinch, in Juv. plumage

Above and below, Adult Goldfinch feeding on thistles.

Below a HERRING GULL. You can see the wing moult really well. One last primary feather on the wing tip to renew.

Its back to work today, boo, but off again wednesday onwards, hurrah!
The walk in was wet and miserable with nothing to report, just the SWALLOWS on the wires at the riding stables.
This afternoon I thought i'd walk round Migrant alley and the college grounds, the latter gave me two close encounters with a KINGFISHER, but not long enough for a photograph! Crossing the college sports pitch I found another SAND MARTIN feeding with the swallows, and half a dozen HOUSE MARTINS.
Having walked through Migrant alley to get home from work, and again to get to the college, I decided to give it another go. I sat and waited for 40 mins, just a CORMORANT going over was of any note, I kept scanning the Maize crop, and fence lines for the Whinchat, but nothing. I decided to move on, and as always happens, suddenly, a movement in the paddocks and a WHEATEAR had appeared. Where do they come from ? I had scanned, and looked and seen nothing, then there it was!! After a few pics, I left it in peace and walked up the side of the maize crop that abuts some large gardens. There, I found a dozen GOLDFINCH feeding on seedheads, and as i watched, a WILLOW WARBLER flew from the Maize and into a hawthorne bush, just giving me a short view of it's lovely lemon plumage.


Cormorant flying over Migrant Alley

Above and below, The Wheatear. I looked at last Aug. sightings for wheatear and found that I had recored them on 14 days, starting from the 5th, with 2 birds on 3 of those days. So this Aug. doesn't look like being good as last Aug. ...........so far.

Heavy showers prevented me getting out before 07:30, but an interesting morning was had. The first part of my walk, through the golf course, lake area, and wet woods produced a total of 36 species, all the usual species including BLACKCAP, WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF and a lone TURTLE DOVE. The little owl wasn't at it's normal roost tree, and no Geese flew over, unusual.
As is normal in Autumn, the farmland, especially Migrant Alley takes more of my time, as it is here I see passage migrants. Despite the presence of hundreds of doggy people, I managed to find the first WHINCHAT of the month, perched atop the Maize crop at migrant alley, I do like these little birds, and always look forward to them passing through.. Looking back at last Augusts records, I saw that the first Whinchat was on the 17th, with two the following day, in all there were 6 Aug. days when a whinchat was recorded. Another migrant the SAND MARTIN was also present, 3 were on the wires at the college stables just off migrant alley, along with 10 or so SWALLOWS. This year has been very good for Sand martin on my patch. In previous years I have only recorded 1 or 2 at most, even then, not in every year.


below is one of the Sand Martins on the wires at the college stables.

3 hours round my patch today, and 45 species were recorded, a reasonable total. The hedgerow along the golfcourse held a few birds today, including 4 BULLFINCH and 3 NUTHATCH, both family parties. At the lake, and scrub area, I found at least 12 BLACKCAPS, males, females and young birds, all feeding in a group of elder trees, whilst another group of Bullfinch, at least 8 were also feeding up on the surrounding berry bushes. On the lake just 4 CANADA GEESE, 2 MALLARDS and 3-4 MOORHENS were seen. The wet woods were very quiet, but once out the other side, I found the LITTLE OWL in it's usual oak, in the small holding area.
The second half of the walk produced another sighting of a HOBBY, chasing SWALLOWS over the tree nursery, while in the bushes that had bramble still growing through them, a WHITETHROAT,numerous DUNNOCKS, BLACKBIRDS and SOGTHRUSH'S helped themselves to the blackberries. The Barn Owl wasn't at home today though.
On to Migrant Alley, only about 400 people and 800 dogs were seen here, so it was straight round to the stream that runs beside the college grounds, where I found only my second sighting of a Banded Demoiselle. A little furthe down a feeding flock of LONG TAILED TITS had the usual GREAT AND BLUE TITS with it as well as a WILLOW WARBLER, the fourth day in a row I have seen one. I crossed into the college grounds, and looked up for a Crossbill in the pines, but it would be a slim chance of finding one, most of the cones have been devoured by squirrels! I did flush up a GREY HERON from one of the ponds, and saw a MALLARD with five newly fledged youngsters. I didn't walk back through Migrant alley, but went around it, as I was nearing the Greenhouse complex 3 YELLOW WAGTAILS flew over, giving their piercing call, I watched them through my bins, as they flew over Migrant Alley, circled, and came down somewhere near the college grounds.

Mum Mallard with five young at the college grounds

Banded Demoiselle, along the stream by the college

Well.................I just couldn't resist this!

This morning was clear and fine, although a little cooler of late. I set off at 06:45, and quickly tallied up 20 species, including 4 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, a family group feeding in a group of oaks at the golf course. They must of bred outside my area. There was less to see at the lake and scrub area than yesterday, and it remained a pretty standard visit during the woodland part of the walk.
Things livened up again when out on the farmland, the BARN OWL was at his roost, and as I neared Migrant Alley, I heard a YELLOW WAGTAIL, at first I couldn't see it, but it's call came nearer I saw that there were in fact 2, they went straight into the maize crop, another new species for the month, thanks migrant alley!
I walked through the college grounds, and managed a pic. of a Painted Lady butterfly, only the second seen this year. At the college sports pitch I looked up, thinking of yesterdays Hobbies, and low and behold, high in the sky, another two! this time they were chasing a SWIFT, the Swift was a good record in itself. As I watched, I'm not sure if the Swift was just teasing the HOBBIES or the Hobbies weren't seriously chasing the Swift, the swift got away in the end, but it didn't look like a real hunt was on.
Another good day count of 48 species, but I think Migrant alley will be of little use to me this weekend. ( see bottom pic.)

Painted Lady Butterfly

This is three black blobs!! however if you look very carefully, bottom left of the pic. is one Hobby, another Hobby is near the top, with the Swift just to the left and below the top Hobby. Not a great photo, you had to be there really!

This Hobby came in a little closer.

Barn Owl at it's roost again.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgh!! A trip out to migrant alley this afternoon and horror. Caravans, cars and tents were rapidly filling the sheep pasture, the sports pitch, and one of the horse paddocks at Migrant Alley. It seems there is going to be a dogshow, Hundreds of bloody dogs! all over migrant alley, Thanks hadlow college. I only hope it's for the weekend and not all week.

All you patch watchers know what a disturbance dogwalkers can sometimes cause - please spare me a thought. )-:

This morning was bright and sunny, and the wind had dropped right out. However I could see the shower clouds building on the horizon, but it stayed dry for my 4 hour visit.
The day started well, when one of the first birds I came across was a WILLOW WARBLER, in Ashes lane, young lemon yellow one. This summer migrant was the first of the many I saw today, in fact I saw all the summer birds that use my patch, except the Swift, which have now gone (well I might see an odd one yet!) CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, and GARDEN WARBLER were at the lake area, feeding on elder berries, a TURTLE DOVE flew out of the tree nursery, LESSER and COMMON WHITETHROATS were in the scrub at the north end of Migrant Alley, also SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS were over the Stables at the college. Whilst in the college grounds the SPOTTED FLCATCHERS were found again, and it was here I had the first encounter with a HOBBY, two in fact! My attention was drwn by 4 House martins above me giving an alarm call, all of a sudden two Hobbies came in at head height, clashed talons, and zoomed off again, quite a site! I walked through the college grounds and out onto the sports field, where I was surrounded by low feeding Swallows, I stood and watched, and had another encounter with a Hobby, all the swallows went crazy as the small falcon dived and chased them, just yards from my feet! An even better encounter than the first!!
Al that came after I was already feeling pleased with the days list, which ended on 48. This included another sighting of the BARN OWL at his roost, and a SPARROWHAWK. Quite a day.

Above and below are the better shots I took of the Hobby.

The two shots below are poor, but it shows the falcon in action, and how it just ignored me!

Above is one of the Swallows after everthing calmed down, taking a breather!



Below. A Sparrowhawk going over

This young Great Spotted Woodpecker below was one of two that were just outside the wet woods, in the small holding

last of all, one of the Rooks that frequents Migrant Alley

A brief respite in the showery, blustery weather this am, enabled me a 4 hour visit to the patch. not much was happening at all on the first part of the walk, the highlight being a MISTLE THRUSH, which gave a short burst of song, the first one seen since the 3rd of the month.
Things were little better on the farmland part of the walk, until I saw a WHEATEAR at Migrant Alley, the first one this autumn. ( One was seen on the 11th by my friend Pat. Her patch adjoins mine to the north, She was trespassing on my patch, and found one at 14:30. I was there at 15:00! where was it then ?)
Shortly after, as I passed the Stables, I heard a WILLOW WARBLER singing from a lone Elder tree. This is the first one i've had on my patch since the 8th of June.
At the college grounds, a KINGFISHER flashed past - again - but I had no chance of photographing it. Also at the college was a Migrant Hawker, the first one I have got a pic of, also a few Blue taled damselflies were about.


Above and below, my first Wheatear of the Autumn - Migrant Alley comes up with the goods again!

Below is a Migrant Hawker, a Male I believe.

Below - one of the Blue Tailed damselflies. stunning blue eyes!

The early part of this morning was a total right off. Heavy rain prevented me getting out until 8.00am. Once I was out, the skies cleared quite quickly, and some warm sunny periods were had.
I only recorded 42 species in the 4 hour visit, but that wasn't too bad, as the early hours that were missed means species like Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Jay and Nuthatch were unlikely to be encountered.
I started my walk from the farmland circuit today, I usually do this second, but due to the late start I wanted to get round the college grounds early enough to beat the workgangs! This paid off, as I came across the SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, being the only person around I could pick my spot and get some good photo's without me or the birds being disturbed. I also found the KINGFISHER, but again missed a photo opportunity!
The BARN OWL was back at his roost, and on the latter part of the walk, I located the LITTLE OWL in its usual oak tree. A noteable occurrence was the HOUSE SPARROWS, they seem to have finished breeding, and were flocking up in one of the hedgrows that borders a field of barley, at Ashes Lane.
In the wet woods a large-ish party of GREAT TITS 10 -15 in all, were feeding, along with a single TREECREEPER.

The picture below was taken this afternoon. It is of a roost of Brown Long Eared bats in my attic! My missus was on one of her cleaning missions and found them - nice one Joy! I took two quick pic's and put the loft hatch back on. If you click on the pic. and enlarge it, you will be able to pick out at least 4 individuals.


Below are the better shots of the Spotted Flycatchers. in the college grounds

below is one of the House Sparrows in the Hedgerow at Ashes Lane, a fine looking Male. you can just see a metal ring on its left leg, it should have 3 plastic rings as well, enabling me to ID it individually, but the clever little fellows seem to be able to remove them.

Despite the heavy rain earlier, there was still a Common Darter to be seen

This is the Little owl in the oak tree. just for Josh!

If your reading this Josh, I wouldn't have known it was there unless I had seen it fly in there last week! It would have been all to easily overlooked.

Can you see it without enlarging the image?

Monday morning, and although I wasn't working it was obvious everyone else was! I spent most of the day birding on my patch, and disturbance was everywhere. Mowers on the golf course, Garden machinery around the lake area, bulldozer at the greenhouses, and it sounded like brands hatch at the college grounds with all the strimmers and hedge cutters going.
Anyway, i'll get told off if I keep moaning! Despite all the above I recorded 49 species, though again actual numbers of birds were low. The biggest concentration of birds was a mixed feeding flock of BLUE, GREAT and LONG TAILED TITS, along with a couple of TREECREEPERS, all in the wet woods. As I came out of the woods and into the small holding, a LITTLE OWL was roosted up in an Oak tree.
A good record for the day was 2 SAND MARTIN that went over with a single SWIFT, a bit of migration going on, but no migrants were seen at migrant alley, just LINNETS, PIED WAGTAILS and a mixed Corvid flock. A KINGFISHER was at the college grounds along with at least. 2 SPOTTED FYCATCHERS, remarkably the first seen this month! Normally Aug. is a good month to see Spotfly's. KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK flew over during the visit, as did 3 types of GULL, LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED.

This male Ruddy Darter took my eye, a striking colour

The Meadow Brown butterflies are fading now, along with the summer

I saw this Blue Tailed Damselfly at the college. Other dragonflies seen there were, Brown and Migrant hawkers, I wanted a pic. of the latter but it wouldn't settle

A four and a half hour visit round my patch today was a bit more interesting. 46 species were seen, but the numbers of birds were low, and any birds that were about, the wind made difficult to find.
Two new species were added to the months list - BARN OWL which was snoozing in the shack, and CORMORANT that flew over migrant alley. Whilst at migrant alley, I thought I again saw a Sedge Warbler fly from the grassy verge and into the Maize crop, but only a glimpse was had. It was no good, I was going to have to sit and wait till it came out! Half an hour later, nothing!! That was it, I decided to walk round the whole crop, two lines of maize in. I flushed out a CHIFFCHAFF, and a couple of PIED WAGTAILS, when I came to where I thought the mystery bird went in, I again saw it for half a second, it flew up and away, further into the crop, not giving sufficient views for me to ID it for certain - it was a probable Sedge Warbler. I gave up, and decided I'd try another day.
The college grounds held my interest for a while, a few butterflies were out, as well as Dragonflies, and one of the pools held at least 4 Red Eyed Damselflies, I've never seen one before. No chance of a pic. though, they were right out in the middle of the water. On the college sports ground, SWALLOWS were skimming close to the grass, I took 33 photo's, and got one that I think is my best ''swallow in flight'' pic yet.

I don't think i'll do much better than this - not this year anyway. If you enlarge the pic. it looks a bit better!

I'll stick my neck out and say this is a female common darter.

Here's the Barn Owl having a snooze. I made sure I didn't disturb it, I was at least 30 meters away, and behind a hedge!

You can just see it in the center of the roof space.

It was still, and sunny when I set of for a four hour walk round the patch at 06:30 this morning. However by the end of the walk conditions were turning windy, and heavy cloud drifted over. A disappointing total of 42 species was recorded, with common species such as Dunnnock, Songthrush, and Mistlethrush not being found. Summer migrants were few also, only BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, and LESSER WHITETHROAT were seen, along with the SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS. There was no sign of the Spotted Flycatchers in the college grounds, but a KINGFISHER flew off one of the ponds there. The only other thing happening today was the continued flyover of Gulls, LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and to a lesser extent BLACK HEADED GULLS, were all trickling over.

Above and below: One of the few summer migrants to be seen was this young Blackcap, feeding on elderberries.

I came across this albino rabbit whilst out. I've seen black ones around, but this is the first albino.

It was overcast and dull when I left for work this morning, and the birds were not showing themselves! HERRING GULLS did buck the trend though, and how! I counted over 100 flying NW. I think they may have come up from a nearby ''cropped'' field.
Not much was happening this afternoon either, a walk over to the lake area didn't produce anything but the really common stuff, WOODPIGEON, COLLARED DOVE, MOORHEN MALLARD, GREEN WOODPECKER and the likes. As I meandered across the tree nursey, just a COMMON WHITETHROAT was heard, but the sighting of another HOBBY flying over was nice. Migrant Alley was only showing SWALLOWS, PIED WAGTAILS and LINNETS, the usual fare. The linnets are beginning to flock together now, 13 were seen feeding on some sort of weed on the trackway.
It will be nice to get out in the early in the morning, I can beat the dog walkers and strimming lot. Everyone round here seems to have purchased a brush cutter! A macho thing I suppose.
i've got next week off, so I'll get out as much as I can - well - in between the outings i'll have to go on with the missus.

This RED ADMIRAL was with 3 Peacock butterflies on the Buddlea by the lake.

It was humid, and misty this morning after a real hum-dinger of a thunderstorm last night. Somewhere from the wet hedgerow, along ashes lane, a whitethroat was making it's scolding 'cherr' 'cherr' noise. Above, over the greenhouses, 30+ SWALLOWS were feeding, along with just a couple of HOUSE MARTINS. As I crossed Migrant Alley there was a steady trickle of HERRING GULLS going over, in ones and twos, whilst in the distance a large flock of GREY LAG Geese flew southwards.
Only an hour to spare this afternoon, but a quick trip round the paddocks and maize field, at migrant alley produced another species for the Aug. list, when a SAND MARTIN flew low over, bring this months total to 57. Earlier this month I said I was chasing last years record Aug. high of 70 species, I read the wrong column, it's only 66 I need, 70 is septembers high!
I may go out again this evening if I have time. Do a bit of skywatching.

Above and below the SAND MARTIN that flew over the Maize crop.

Much the same goings on round my patch this am, although a CHIFFCHAFF was singing at the college grounds, the first heard actually singing for some weeks.
This afternoon I went to the lake area, and had a look at the adjacent scrub. BLACKCAP, WHITETHROAT and Chiffchaff were all showing, as they fed on the elder berries. A KINGFISHER was vocal, and was breifly glimpsed, a typical view - flying away!
Before entering the tree nursery I stopped to look over the small pool, I found at least 6 Common Darters patroling the edges. In the nursery a Whitethroat was seen and a couple of GREEN WOODPECKERS, and as I stopped and looked up the first KESTREL of the month was overhead, 10 seconds later a SPARROWHAWK came low over, and not even 10 seconds later, a HOBBY came over low! All this drove the local SWALLOWS mad, and 30 -40 went into a frenzied diving and alarm calling. Whilst scanning the sky SWIFTS were again in good supply, at least 30 were wheeling high up.

Hobby, followed the Sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk followed the Kestrel

Here's the Kestrel

Whilst at the lake area, I checked the Buddlea, there were at lest 8 of these Peacock Butterflies there.

One of a number of Common darters seen on the small pool

Last of all, a HOUSE MARTIN. It was sweeping down low over the carpark of the Greenhouse Complex.

As I locked the door behind me this morning, I could hear a great honking, and cackling, I looked up and over 100 GREY LAG GEESE went over just above chimney pot level, different size groups went over, the biggest one had 63 birds in it. A common bird, but what a spectacle! Apart from that it was mostly the SWALLOWS at Migrant Alley that took my interest, 20 were alighting in a small half dead tree, and at least another 30 were zooming low over the paddocks.
I walked home in persistent rain, and didn't even get my binoculars out of my bag! I waited until 16:00 until the rain cleared, before going out for a trip round migrant alley again. Two species were found to add to the Aug. list, COMMON WHITETHROAT, of which 3 were found in the srub at the north end, and TURTLE DOVE, 2 of which flew over. Also going over were 5 SWIFTS, I don't usually see many Swifts in Aug. but this year they are proving plentiful. A look back at my records shows the mean last sighting date for swift is the 17th Aug. The very latest date was the 31st Aug, back in 2004. I also looked at Turtle dove records, their mean last sighting date is the 22nd Aug, with the latest sighting on the 1 Sept. which occurred last year. my walks will be tinged with a bit of sadness when all the migrants have gone back to Africa.
Sorry there's no pics today, the light was very poor, and photo opportunities were virtually nil!

It felt a bit Autumnal this morning on the way to work, but the singing YELLOWHAMMER in ashes lane reminded me there was still a bit of summer left. SWALLOWS skimmed over the maize crop at migrant alley, and LINNETS were on the fencing, but little else was about.
This afternoon I walked through the tree nursery, trying to find a Whitethroat for the Aug. list, as this was the last place I saw one, but they weren't about. A couple of noisey
GREEN WOODPECKERS flew up from between the rows of trees, as did two STOCK DOVES. I walked up the adjacent field boundary and checked the hedgerow that leads me onto Migrant Alley, only a DUNNOCK and a few BLUE TITS were there. At Migrant Alley, I stopped and watched 15 or so SWIFTS go over, and a 3 HERRING GULLS with a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL. Linnets and Swallows were still the most numerous birds about, closely folllowed by PIED WAGTAILS, one adult was feeding two youngsters on the dung heap. Thereafter a band of short sharp showers passed through, and ended my walk.

I watched the garden feeders for an hour or so. GREENFINCH (Above) were now getting quite numerous, 8 were at the sunflower hearts. A flock of 9 STARLINGS came down to the Elder tree, which has now got some ripening fruit on, hopefully it might attract a Blackcap or Lesser Whitethroat in, as happens in most years, less so the Common Whitethroat.

Three GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS came in , a female and two young birds.

A squirrel has taken the majority of the cob nuts from the tree, I suppose it's better than nicking the sunflower hearts.

Another 4 hour visit from 06:30 this morning provided a few more birds than yeserday, 46 Species in all. I left in dry conditions, but by the time I had reached the golf course hedgerow, 20mins later, it was raining heavily, and I had just my flece and trainers on, DOH! I kept on however, and was pleased to see a flock of MISTLE THRUSH'S in a Large horse paddock just off cuckoo Lane, also, the only SKYLARK of my visit was seen here. On to the Lake and scrub area, where I saw 2 BLACKCAPS with a GARDEN WARBLER feeding in an Elder tree, nice little find. I went through the wet woods and got even more soaked by the dripping trees, I was glad to get to my house for a change into ''wet weather'' gear.
I started the second half of the walk with 35 species under my belt, the next species was a SONTHGTHRUSH, but the next sighting was most unexpected 3 COMMON TERNS (92) flew low over the Greenhouse complex and over Ashes Lane, another species for the year list. Common Terns are not seen every year over my patch, and I thought i'd lost the chance for this year, as I've not recorded one in August before, a good species to get, and it moves me a bit closer to the 100!
Migrant alley was quiet, but the scrub area on the northern end of it gave me good views of 2 LESSER WHITETHROATS, I should have brought the camera after all! Another good photo oportunity was lost when I found 2 male Banded demoiselles, I don't think in the dull light and blowing rain they would have Made good pic's anyway. The college grounds produced my first COAL TITS of the month, which with the Common Tern, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler, and Lesser Whitethroat, takes the monthly species total into the low 50's.

A brief afternoon visit, mainly to find and photo the Banded Demoiselles, was agian ruined by the rain, I did find a Banded Demoiselle, this time a female, but it didn't stop for a pic. The rain set in and I made my way home, but on the way I came across this sleeping Juv. JACKDAW, I took it's pic. and it woke up with a start and flew off.

A four hour visit from 06:30 in windy and overcast conditions, proved a little disapointing. Just 41 species were recorded, well down on recent visits. The most abundant bird was the ROOK, with 110 feeding on the horse paddocks at migrant alley, closely followed by Jackdaw, of which 85 were seen, feeding with them. I can't believe that for the first time in over 6 years of walking my patch, I didn't record a Chaffinch! Although there were two on the feeders when I got home, so thats really 42 for the day.
The whole walk was actually very quiet birdwise, and 17 of the species seen had a count of 5 or less. There were highlights to the day, 2 KINGFISHERS were seen, 1 on the stream behind the college, and 1 in the college grounds, on one of the small ponds. Also a first my Southern Hawker (I think). It was again by one of the ponds at the college.
Flyovers included a count of 61 HERRING GULLS and 2 LESSER BLACK BACK GULLS, 45 GREY LAG and 4 CANADA GEESE.

A female Southern Hawker. Thanks for the sex greenie.....errr, I mean thanks for ID of gender!!

Despite the overcast and windy conditions, Gatekeeper butterflies were still numerous

Last of all my best ever pic. of a KINGFISHER. It's the best because it's the first and only one Ive got!!!!!!!

The new month started well enough, 19 species were seen/heard on the way in to work this am, and i'm going to need every one of those if i'm going to better the record August species total of 70, reached last year. The highlight of those seen this morning, was a HOBBY, seen in the college grounds, I saw it dive down and attempt to grab a SONGTHRUSH, the thrush narrowly escaped, losing just a plume of feathers.
This afternoon I had only enough time for a short walk over to migrant alley, where I spent an hour skywatching, the wind had really picked up and just a few species were seen, HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULLS, SPARROWHAWK, SWALLOW, HOUSE MARTIN, PIED WAGTAIL and 3 SWIFTS always good to get this species early on in Aug. They will be leaving in droves now, going back to Africa.
Out early tomorrow, and being the first full walk round of the month, i'll be counting all birds seen, lets hope for some more of those migrants!