Wednesday 26 August 2009

A short half hour visit to Migrant Alley yesterday evening was worthwhile, when once again at least 2 YELLOW WAGTAILS were about, it's certainly been an exceptional passage for this species on my patch this august. Not so for Whinchat and Wheatear though, last year I had Whinchat sightings on 4 August days, this year just one, and Wheatear were seen on 7 days last August, this year just 3.

Todays visit around Migrant Alley was very quiet, not surprising really given the weather. A strong blustery wind blew, and occassional spits of rain blew through. Only the local birds were seen, 30 LINNETS, 3 SKYLARKS, 45 STARLING and a large mixed flock of Corvids, mostly ROOKS and JACKDAWS. A KESTREL flew over, only the 5th sighting of one this month, and both LESSER BLACK BACKED and HERRING GULLS also went over. Around 40 SWALLOWS and 20 HOUSE MARTINS were feeding above the paddocks, looking like autumn leaves being tossed about in the strong wind.

At least now the work on the gas pipeline really does seem to have ended, all the fences have been put back, and the hard ground that had been driven over has been ploughed and harrowed, all that is left to do is re-plant the hedges. Maybe now a Wheatear or Whinchat will drop in!

One other visitor to the paddocks was this immature GREEN WOODPECKER, the only photo I took today.


7 comments:

Chris said...

HI WArren,
Thanks for the confirmation of the ID of the icterine warbler. It looks like the weather is definitvely turning to winter here, raining all the time and really bad! I've not been able to get out. Fortunately, I have a lot of pictures from France.

ShySongbird said...

So glad the major work is finished on your patch now Warren, it must have been horrible, I know I would have hated it and I could tell you were 'talking' through gritted teeth sometimes when it was in the thick of it.

Great capture of the GW! It has been grey, wet and miserable here today :(

FAB said...

Not a bad list bearing in mind the weather Warren. Apart from Canada Geese & Mallard I've seen very little else flying around in todays winds. Good to learn the disruption has come to an end. FAB

Ipin said...

Nice green pecker, they are really uncommon up here, I'll never see one at Druridge that's for sure!

Jann said...

Wow, a green woodpecker! No such thing in the US; neat to see.

swatson said...

great shot of the woodpecker,have yet to see a green one.
sheila

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: That is one cool woodpecker.