It was a run of the mill October visit, I spent 5hrs from 07:15 onwards, recording 47 species, which is 3 0r 4 more than expected, three of those were new for the month. First a GREY WAGTAIL that was found in the college grounds, feeding by one of the ornimental pools, second was a YELLOW HAMMER, which flew from a hedgerow at Migrant Alley, a bit of compensation for not finding any Stonechat there! The third new member of the October list was a LITTLE OWL, it called from the small copse behind the greenhouse complex.
I kept scanning the sky for any newly arrived Fieldfare, but none yet, however, there were a few REDWING moving through, headed west. Whilst skywatching at Migrant Alley, after finishing the circuit of my patch, all the corvids flew up in panic, this generally means a raptor is about, and this time it was one of the PEREGRINES, it flew directly over my head - nice!
Other raptor sightings were KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK, maybe these were what had made the LINNET, PIED WAGTAIL, and MEADOW PIPIT numbers well down on previous visits.
Still nothing around on the lake, and only the usual suspects were recorded in the wet woods and small holding - Tits, Finch's, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, but I didn't see a single Great Spotted Woodpecker today!
Below is the sunrise this morning.
Above and below is the Peregrine, menacing the corvids!
Above and below is that dratted Sparrowhawk at the garden feeders again, mind you I did still see a CHIFFCHAFF before it arrived, there were at least 5 around my patch as well, one was singing as though it was spring!
lastly the classic fungi - a fly agaric
7 comments:
Hi Warren - have yuo reported your singing chiffy to Autumnwatch?
Cheers
Davo
Hi Warren.
You seem to have covered everything they spoke about on Autumnwatch last night. They asked for Chiffchaff sightings,and calls to be reported, also to be on the lookout for early Redwing's, and your male Sparrowhawk photo's are similar to the one they showed.
Maybe you watched it.
Well done on a good day's birding Warren. Have a good weekend
Hi Warren,
Well done on the peregrine, these are nice shots. I guess the redwings will join you soon they finished gathering here.
I went out today just half an hour, and this produced the 90's species with a least and white-rumped sandpiper and an americam wigeon! All three new for the year and the two first being life species. I'm going out all day tomorrow. American goldies and a lot of other species have been seen!!!
Beautiful sunset photo Warren!
I think our Sparrowhawk may have moved on again as the feeders emptied quickly today!
Forty seven species sounds great to me.
Lovely photos throughout!
Great sunrise pic Warren. I must try harder to get out earlier!!
The monthly list keeps growing, Warren. Nice one, keep at it.
Oh that mushroom is so pretty! Ok, the birds are nice too ;o) Real nice peregrine shots in fact. Very lovely sunrise you captured as well.
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