Monday 17 August 2009

Another good day on the patch this morning, at least, as far as migrants are concerned. I checked the tall hedge at Migrant Alley and found three REED WARBLERS! They are not rare birds, but they are only seen on my patch on migration - and then not every year, so its exciting for me to find them!

I left the hedge and walked along the weedy edge of the maize crop, where a few SKYLARK, LINNET and PIED WAGTAIL busied themselves, but a bird showing familiar features was just ahead of me, a quick look through my bins confirmed a SEDGE WARBLER, another scarce migrant on my patch, I tried to get near enough for a photo, but only partially succeeded, but whilst doing so a fourth Reed Warbler alighted on the top of the maize! I wondered how many warblers were actually hidden in the maize field, and never seen by me.

After walking round the College grounds, and the associated stream, picking up the more usual species, I walked back through Migrant Alley, where all was quiet, it seems that the most productive part of the day is the first hour after dawn. I say quiet but overhead SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS were busy feeding, and it was in one of their mass flyovers that I spied with them a new species for the month - a SAND MARTIN, then almost immediately two YELLOW WAGTAILS followed, giving thier distinctive calls as they went over, a good migrant day indeed!

The second half of my walk didn't live up to yesterday, far fewer birds were in the scrubby area by the lake, the Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler were not found. In all I recorded 49 species this morning, but four of those weren't seen yesterday, making a two day total of 56, not bad for my patch.

So the months list moves on to 65, but thats still 5 behind Augusts record total of 70, set last year, and it'll be difficult add more species, the species that were on last August list that are missing this year are :- Cormorant, a possible for this month. Peregrine, not seen since the local rag anounced that the pair on the the tower had a nest on it! Barn Owl, no chance this year. Common tern, an outside chance. Kingfisher, another possible along with the Grey Wagtail. However, I have got Marsh Tit this year that I didn't last August.
(If you can follow all that then you doing well!)


Photo's today - not very clear again, but you can make out the WILLOW WARBLER, which was at the College again this morning.
And the Sedge Warbler, sitting on the Maize.
These two Grey Herons flew over the college grounds



7 comments:

Lancs and Lakes Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Got my fingers crossed you'll get six more species in the next 14 days. But that'll make 2010's August even more challenging...

good luck

Dave

Anonymous said...

Yeh, good luck, Warren, for the remainder of the month.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Your keeping the numbers moving .
Like the two Heron shot . Did you fall flat on your back after taking it .

EP Andy said...

Hi Warren

Sorry for not commenting for ages, still good to ready your blog on a daily basis though, especially when I'm travelling away from home.

I can't believe the Courier mentioned the Peregrines nest. I hope they haven't been scared off. Who the hell let them know anyway? Haven't seen them over my way either.

Sounds like your migrant alley is coming up trumps once again. Keep up the reporting.

Chris said...

Wow Warren, are you getting all these migrants guys already... here it is quite calm, and almost nothing new has been reported... Strange, because the weather is getting quite cold again, only 8 degrees today!

Jann said...

I'm rooting for you to make your list quota...I really like how the light hits the maize in the sedge warbler pic, nice! And really nice overhead shot of the herons, too.

Ghost of Stringer said...

Howdo Warren... looks like you're having a good migrant spell down there...

I'd kill for a reed warbler up here !! Only ever seen a handful in total on the patch here....