Monday 5 October 2009

It rained virtually all day today, the first rain for a month, so we cant complain. I got home from work soaked through, but after a brew and change of clothes I was out again. I went through the tree nursery and along the hedgerow leading to Migrant Alley, but not much was recorded - DUNNOCKS, ROBINS, a GREEN WOODPECKER and a Stoat, which scampered ahead of me along the hedgerow for a good few minutes, of course it only did this because I hadn't brought my camera out in the rainy conditions, I have never managed a photo of a Stoat!

I reached Migrant alley and the rain was a bit heavier now, and the clouds were low making for a dismall scene, however the freshly seeded field was alive with SKYLARKS, LINNETS, PIED WAGTAILS and MEADOW PIPITS, most of which were all but invisible until they started one of their chases, why do they all chase the Meadow Pipits!

I did a circuit of the fields and paddocks, and found a CHIFFCHAFF in the scrub headland, and a few CHAFFINCH feeding by the large dung heap, there were HERRING GULLS frequently flying over, with the odd BLACK HEADED GULL, and it was as I watched these that I saw at least 40 HOUSE MARTINS wheeling around in the gloom catching whatever insects were up there, they stayed around for 10mins or so then flew SW. I checked the tall hedge which was devoid of any bird activity, and the Greenhouse complex grounds had little to offer apart from a SONGTHRUSH, more Robins and Dunnocks and a JAY. So I called it a day, wet through again! No new species for the months list today!

8 comments:

Greenie said...

Warren ,
What a washout today .
Two frustrating days for me , having spent a few hours in A&E yesterday , tore the tendons in my wrist last week up on the Ridge , then made it worse hedgelaying Saturday .

Phil and Mandy said...

Hi Warren, loved the tawny photo yesterday, I never got out in the end.

ShySongbird said...

I have never forgotten watching a Stoat for some minutes a couple of years before I had the DSLR, it would have made a great photo, so I can imagine your disappointment!

No rain here at all but grey and dull all day, I think we are in for it tomorrow!

Pete Woodruff said...

Thanks for comments on Birds2blog Warren I really appreciate your interest which I like to return by looking in daily on Pittswood Birds and commenting where appropriate.

Sharon said...

Hi Warren, I can't believe how lucky you are - first a Tawny and now a Stoat! It's been dry & sunny here today (Ireland) but I think we're getting the rain tomorrow!

Chris said...

HI Warren,
That will be for tomorrow the new species for the month :-) I just went out to the car few minutes ago, and falkes were falling. Looks like the snow on the mountain is reaching us.

Anonymous said...

I spent the day watching the landscaping crew work in the sun. They tore everything out and put everything new back in. An all day job. I did take pictures but nothing is that special. I didn't do anything on the blog.

We are supposed to have rain tomorrow.

Kelly said...

...I'll have to look up a Stoat...I have no idea what it is. With a very strange name, I bet it's interesting! I birded all morning Saturday in the rain, but I didn't have as much luck as you did.