Sunday 22 March 2009

This morning I spent just an hour at migrant alley, before going off on the KOS fieldtrip (which produced some good birds -LS Woodpecker, Barn Owl and a couple of Buzzard) my hours stint on the horse jump didn't give me anything exciting though. A couple of SKYLARK sang, and a few groups of HERRING GULL flew westwards.

I got back from the fieldtrip about 13:00, and after something to eat and drink, I was back over sitting at migrant alley. I spent 90 mins watching the sky, as very little else was about. After 10mins or so a SPARROWHAWK was seen, and as I watched it dueling with a carrion crow for some minutes, I noticed two smaller birds come into my view, I switched my attention to these, and could see they were Either House Martins or sandmartins. They were quite high up, but I could eventually see there was no white rump on them, which made them SANDMARTIN (80), anyway it's far too early for a House martin, of which the earliest date ever seen was on Apr.14. So the year list goes up one more! Sandmartins are mostly ever seen just passing through my patch, and most records concern birds on Autumn migration, when they can occasionally be seen feeding over the area or more rarley, perched up with Housemartins on the telephone wires.. Today's sighting is only the second spring record of this species, the last being in Apr 2007, so it was a good one to get!

Below is a Male CHAFFINCH that I ''passed'' on the way back home.


11 comments:

Josh Jenkins Shaw said...

Nice one Warren, where did you go on the KOS field trip?

Warren Baker said...

Hi Josh
Boughton park (Don Taylors Patch)

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Snap with the male Chaffinch .
Well done with the egg ID , there could well have been a prize - if I wasn't a poor pensioner .
Back to the Marmite .

Adam said...

Well done on the Sand Martins Warren - Swallows next?? Gutted not to get out to KOS walk, always dip on LS WOodpecker on Don's patch and Bob Bland jibbed me on THursday night that those attending would see one! Mother's Day and all that...poor excuse eh!

Adam

Kingsdowner said...

Well spotted for the sand Martins - no sign of any over the cliffs here yet.

Mike H said...

Hi warren

Really envious that i had to dip on not only the KOS trip but also L S Woodpecker. No doubt not the only one for whom mothers day fell on the wrong Sunday.

Steve said...

Another well done for the Sand Martins. I keep looking....but not yet!

Ken. said...

Hi Warren.
Ditto with the Sand Martins. Non sighted at Dunge today, but 2 Swallows went through, although I dipped out on them. Glad you had a good day out mate.

Steve said...

Great to see the 80 up Warren.

Kelly said...

...congrats Warren on the Sand Martin and 80 species! The little Chaffinch looks like a sweet bird.

Chris said...

Nice sight, it was worth observing... Good job mate!!