The last september patch visit; and what a drab one, after such a good month! The highlight was this morning, was a KESTREL hunted around the greenhouses and a CHIFFCHAFF sang from the College grounds!

This afternoon, despite ideal watching conditions - overcast and no wind, very little of note was seen. I went over to the Lake area in the hope of a Teal or Mandarin duck, but all that was there was 5 MALLARD and 7 MOORHEN, oh and a GREY HERON.

Over to Migrant Alley and the LINNET flock had grown to around 75+, PIED WAGTAILS had increased from yesterday as well with at least 25 feeding on the horse paddocks, a few MEADOW PIPITS came and went throughout the afternoon, but not one Skylark was seen. I hope October starts better than this!

A few quick September stats -

species seen 78, a new september record. ( and the best ever months total for any month)

Combined species total for all Septembers - 88

Only one new september species was seen a Marsh Harrier

Mean number of species seen for the month of september is 65. That shows what a good month I had this month!

It all starts again tomorrow, hopefully there will be some winter visitors arriving during October - cant wait!

The only pic. I took today was of this strangely marked Pied Wagtail!

Nothing much has changed on my patch from yesterday. This afternoons visit to Migrant Alley was dominated by BLACK HEADED GULLS, 150 or so followed a tractor that was again harrowing the bone dry field. 6 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL were also around, but the HERRING GULLS left early for some reason.

Not a single summer visitor was seen, not even a Chiffchaff, and the long staying Wheatear seems to have left as well. That left me with the residents, LINNETS, PIED WAGTAILS and SKYLARKS of which a group of 20 flew through. The large flock of corvids moved around the fields and paddocks, I think they were spooked by the large female SPARROWHAWK that went over a few times!

Thats about it - no more species to add for the months list, and with just one more day left, the tally will probably remain on 78, but that is one good september total, i'm well pleased with it, such birds as Marsh Harrier, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Redstart made it probably the most enjoyable month so far on my patch.


Above: Black Headed Gulls on the bone dry field.

Above: Adult Black headed Gull. Below 1st winter Black Headed Gull ( I told you today was Gull dominated!)

Not much occurred during the walk into work and back, this morning, a KESTREL hunted over the tree nursery, and one of the Peregrines was on the village tower, but thats off my patch.

This afternoon I had only 90 mins out around Migrant Alley, not long enough! I did manage to find a WHEATEAR again, i'm not sure wether it is the same bird or a new migrant. A family party of BULLFINCH'S were in the scrub headland, as was a flock of 8 LONG TAILEED TITS, and I watched 5 Chiffchaffs working a hedgerow that was just off of my patch.

A 40 min skywatch produced a stream of BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULLS going over to a nearby field that was being harrowed, aslo a GREY HERON, and few MEADOW PIPITS. Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were seen, but again they were well off my patch - the story of my day! As I was leaving, 5 LAPWING flying over the Greenhouse complex was a nice sight.


The only pics I got today was of this young female blackbird, it was bathing in a puddle, made by a cut to ribbons water pipe that fed a trough. Damaged caused by one of those carefully driven hedge flailing machines!

The last full patch walk of september took place in similar conditions to yesterday, cool and clear to begin with - sunny and warm later.

I started my walk with the small holding, wet woods, and lake area today, in order to get to the lake early, if I was going to get a new species for the month it would probably be a duck species. However, my plans were scuppered, as there were noisy fisherman using the lake, and nothing but MALLARD and MOORHEN were seen. Its always a gamble doing the lake circuit first, as it means I get round later to the college area, where there will be disturbance, so I blew out all round today.

I did see some good birds though, HOBBY, BLACKCAP, up to 7 CHIFFCHAFF and 3 migrant SWALLOWS were the remnants of summer birds. A WHEATEAR was still at Migrant Alley, where a KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK were hunting. SKYLARK, PIED WAGTAIL, LINNET and MEADOW PIPIT were also at Migrant Alley.

The best of the wet woods and lake area were TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, a family party of BULLFINCH'S and one of the two 'wintering' MARSH TITS was found.

46 species was a fair tally for the day, but it's a bit frustrating not getting any new monthly species, as I am so close to getting 80 now, mind you I have only recorded 88 species in all of the now 8 septembers combined, so I have had a good run, the missing birds are things like Osprey and Barn Owl, which are one time birds only!

I got a few photo's today, below is another Clouded yellow butterfly

Above and below are Skylarks, the top one looks real cute if you enlarge it.

Below is a Chiffchaff

Lastly a GREAT TIT

The morning commenced cool but clear, and soon turned into another warm sunny day, embarrassing most of the summer months efforts that were endured.

I had to wait until 06:30 hrs until the light was good enough to get out, but very little was going on around the patch at that time, WREN, ROBIN, DUNNOCK and WOODPIGEON were first on the list, as is not unusual, 7 GREYLAG GEESE flew over, silhouetted against the eastern sky. ROOKS and CARRION CROWS flew over as did a GREY HERON and a CHIFFCHAFF was heard singing in the tree nursery, one of 6 seen today.

At Migrant Alley a few GULLS had already begun to arrive, HERRING and BLACK HEADED mostly with a single LESSER BLACK BACKED, two PHEASANT were on the edges of the recently ploughed field, where the remaining weeds were hosting a flock of around 20 LINNETS. MEADOW PIPIT, PIED WAGTAIL and JACKDAW joined the list, and a HOBBY flew over calling loudly, but there was not much else around the fields and paddocks.

On the way to the stream and college grounds, BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, COLLARED DOVE, STARLING and BLACKBIRD were seen, and two CANADA GEESE flew low over. At the streamside few birds were around, but CHAFFINCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER as well as a MOORHEN showed themselves. I crossed the stream and headed into the college grounds and garden where I found GREENFICH'S feeding on rose hips, and as I watched them fly up and into cover I saw that a BLACKCAP was with them. The days first MAGPIE was seen as I crossed the sports pitch to get back to Migrant Alley, and HOUSE SPARROW went on the daylist, seen at the stable yard. Back at Migrant Alley, I found no Wheatear, or any other passage migrants, but in the tall hedge a YELLOWHAMMER was seen, as was a GOLDFINCH. I did my customary last look back over the fields and managed to see both STOCK DOVE and SKYLARK, bringing the list to 35 at the halfway point.

After a quick refreshing drink, I went of to the small holding to get into the wet woods, and it wasn't until here that the next species was put on the list - a NUTHATCH that called loudly, LONG TAILED TITS, TREECREEPER and GOLDCREST were all heard, but unseen in the dense foilage of the trees. A MISTLE THRUSH flew across the large garden next to the lake area, but on the lake it was disappointing to see just MALLARD and Moorhens. I checked the scrub area, and found COAL TIT, SONG THRUSH, JAY and BULLFINCH which brought the days tally to 45 after the full patch walk. As I had time, I went back over to Migrant Alley for scan of the sky, which proved worthwhile, as 5 more species were seen, which rounded off the 50 for the day - KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, COMMON BUZZARD, HOUSE MARTIN and of course, it had to turn up - a WHEATEAR!
It was notable that not one Swallow was seen, even the local ones have left now.




Above Sunrise. Below Sparrowhawk over Migrant Alley

Below is the Wheatear. I have recorded this migrant species in eleven out of the past 12 days now.

Once again the weather was more akin to a summers day than mid. Autumn, but i'll not complain about that!

The Maize stubbles were being ploughed in this afternoon, and I spent from 14:30 to 17:30 watching what might drop in. At first just 14 HERRING GULLS and one LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL were seen, I put this down to the fact that the soil being turned over was so dry, with very few worms being thrown up. I decided to take a walk through the Scrubby headland, in the hope of finding a rare Migrant, but as usual I didn't, but there was a party of 13 LONG TAILED TITS, and a CHIFFCHAFF that was following them.

I eventually made my way back to the plough, and sat down to watch, a COMMON BUZZARD flew high overhead, but it didn't seem to phase the Gulls, which had now been joined by about 100 BLACK HEADED GULLS. I scanned all that I could, but couldn't find a Med Gull. Half an hour later, the Blackheaded Gulls had doubled in number, and were joined by at least 3 COMMON GULLS, 14 more Lesser Blackback Gulls and 40 Herring Gulls.

30-40 LINNETS flew up each time the tractor passed them, and MEADOW PIPITS dropped in to join the crowd, as well as a few PIED WAGTAILS. More scanning of the Black Headed Gulls still didn't reveal a Med Gull, I looked through over 200 of them! I gave the fencelines a scan, just to give me something different to look at, and found yet another WHEATEAR, so I crept up and took its photo, I just had to!

Straight after the ploughing, the field was rolled, and then left to the birds, I watched 2 SKYLARKS drop in, 4 STOCK DOVES and 7 COLLARED DOVES, but another good scan of the Gulls didn't add anything to the September list.

There were no Swallows recorded today, and just 2 HOUSE MARTINS were seen, only a few more weeks and even these will be gone.


Below is a Comma Butterfly, enjoying the sunshine

You can see how dry the field is by the plume of dust coming up from the plough.

Above and below are pics. of one of the Long Tailed Tits

Below is a WREN

lastly of course the Wheatear!

Today was a day stolen from summer, warm, blue skyed, and little wind. It was briefly a little chilly as I left for work this morning, but it soon warmed up. The only thing of note on my walk in was one of the PEREGRINES on the village Tower, but thats off my patch.

I walked home from work across Migrant Alley, and once again, in the harrowed maize stubbles, I found a WHEATEAR, this one was different from all the others I had seen this Autumn, as it was an adult male, much more colourful and srtikingly marked, all the other Wheatears have been Immature/female types.

After something to eat I returned to the Maize to try and get a photo of the adult Wheatear, as I scanned the field I found not a Wheatear, but a LAPWING, well thats one more for the September list! A little more scanning and I found a Wheatear, but this one wasn't the adult male, that meant two of them, I almost immediatley found the adult bird a way off, and as I walked the fence line to get closer, two more Wheatears flew up and onto the fence, now there were four! Thats the second party of four this month, a great record.

I spent the afternoon watching the coming and going of the Wheatears, and whilst doing so also saw 2 SKYLARKS, and the LINNET flock, which seems to be getting bigger by the day, there were at least 40. MEADOW PIPITS put in an appearance, as did a few PIED WAGTAILS.

Overhead a SPARROWHAWK came over breifly, before being seen of by the JACKDAWS, and the local SWALLOWS were feeding, at times joined by small groups of HOUSE MARTINS, but nowhere near the numbers of yesterday. The only other summer bird seen was a CHIFFCHAFF in the scrub at the headland.


Above Lapwing No. 78 !

Above is one of the Linnets.

Above and below are 'usual' type Wheatears

Above the Male (right) with another Immature/female type

Above is the adult Male, I couldn't get very close to him, but you can see the striking plumage difference

Below is the Male bird in the harrowed maize, you can see how hard I have to scan to find these camouflaged migrants! can you see it ?

On the way to work this morning, another sighting of a WHEATEAR was had at Migrant Alley, as well the two HOBBIES which were again in the top of a favoured tree in the college grounds.

The weather for this afternoons visit went rapidly down hill, becoming dull and drizzely by 15:00hrs, but I managed to re-find the Wheatear again. I was looking back at last years Wheatear sightings and was surprised to see that the last one was recorded on the 20th Sept. so it is possible today could be the last one, but there again looking back further, I have recorded them well into October, in 3 out of the 7 past Autumns. I looked at the Whinchat as well, they have never been recorded in Oct. before, and the latest one seen was on the 28th Sept. last year, so I probably have a week in which to find another.

Back to this afternoon, which was spent watching over the fields and paddocks again, the maize was being harrowed in, prior to ploughing, and had a small number of PIED WAGTAILS following the tractor. On the edges of the maize 25-30 LINNETS were on the weeds, and a few MEADOW PIPITS came and went. The two HOBBIES were hunting over the area, but were nowhere to be seen when at least 600 HOUSE MARTINS came through. They were quite some sight, the sky was full of them, I scanned all the way to the horizon and still more were coming, this was Migration in action!

A STARLING flock of some 500 birds was seen in the sheep pasture, but as the drizzle got heavier, I made an early departure, a quick sky scan only revealed BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULL. if the field is ploughed tomorrow there should be a few of them following the tractor, and maybe a Med. Gull for the months list, which has stagnated now.

I didn't get any pics today, the light was too dull, try again tomorrow.

No Hobbies or peregrines this morning as I walked to work, but a KESTREL was out early hunting over the maize stubbles. A brief glimpse of a small raptor was had as it flew over the college grounds, it wasn't a kestrel, or a Sparrowhawk, I was sure it was a Merlin, but I had a very fleeting look at it, its wings were no where near long enough for a hobby, but it had a very short tail - oh well, one that got away, a Merlin would have been a patch tick!

This afternoon was always going to be a bit of a come down after yesterdays highlights, but there were two WHEATEARS at Migrant Alley, MEADOW PIPITS, LINNETS, and a SKYLARK were also present. It was a bit frustrating because of the amount of disturbance going on, - from hedge cutting, pigeon shooting, even the air ambulance, flying around low! The presence of a SPARROWHAWK over the Paddocks, Maize and up and down the hedgerows didn't help matters either. I watched it try to catch a Linnet, but it wasn't quite agile enough, and the linnet lived to fight another day.

The maize stubbles just outside my patch were ploughed in today, and many Gulls were watched drifting over to feed on the plough, it probably wont be long now before the stbbles at Migrant Alley get ploughed in, so maybe i'll get something new drop in for the month, a Lapwing wouldn't be too unusual.


Above is the Sparrowhawk, being chased by a few ROOKS
Below is, I think, a Common Darter, not looking its best.
You might have to click on these pics and enlarge them for a better view

I had good views of the pair PEREGRINES, and a pair HOBBIES this morning, the former on their favoured tower, the latter sat up on the tree that I took the photo from yesterday - a nice way to start the working day, week even!

This afternoon after work, I was out at Migrant Alley by 14:15 and not alot was happening, for two hours I scanned the sky, the fencelines and the Maize stubbles, but all I got was a flyover BUZZARD, (ok thats a good bird ) and a flyover CORMORANT. A few SWALLOWS were around, but they were the local breeding birds, still with young to feed I reckon.

At 16:15 I decided to call it a day, and trudged off across what remains of the weedy edge of the maize stubbles. Then, a familiar white rumped bird flew up from 20m in front of me, WHEATEAR - at last something to cheer the day, but hang on, theres another, and another and yet another, 4 Wheatear, Wow, this is the best peak count, since I recorded four back in Sept. 2003. Well that really put some spring back in my legs, and after my fill of Wheatear, I walked of a happy man......However, the god of gleefulness hadn't done with me yet! I walked the fenceline at the end of the stubbles, and a small bird was on the fence post, I got onto it with my bins - STONECHAT! Another scarce migrant on my patch, and a new one for the September list that I had all but given up on. These migrants must have only dropped in as I was crossing the field, now I wasn't just a happy man I was very happy.......However, still the god of gleefulness had more for me ( and do I deserve it!)

As I walked to the corner of the stubble field to cross into the Greenhouse complex, I noticed quite a bit of movement in the scrubby area around the Greenhouses, I investigated and found ROBINS, DUNNOCKS, GREAT and BLUE TITS and a BLACKBIRD, then a female BLACKCAP popped up, but the real bonuses were a LESSER WHITETHROAT, and a WILLOW WARBLER both in an elder bush, and both go onto the months list, now I was an ecstatic man!!

Both these species are the latest ever recorded, the Lesser Whitethroat by one day, and the Willow Warbler by 11 days. The months list,now 77 has blown away the previous sept record of 72 and the best ever monthly tally of 73!

What an afternoons birding!



Above and below Wheatears galore!

Above and below, Stonechat - great bird for my patch.

One of the local Swallows, they wont be here much longer now

Below is an attempted Willow Warbler shot, it just wouldn't stay still, I stalked it from bush to bush, and caught up with it in an alder tree, but this is the best I could do!

An extended 7.5 hour visit was made of my patch today, in two sessions, 06:30 - 10:30 and 11:30 - 15:00. In all, an excellent 56 species were recorded, with two new additions for the months list. A PEREGRINE that was seen flying over Migrant Alley to its favoured perch, on the tower, and at last a KINGFISHER, which was heard flying along the college stream, then picked up as it flashed by. So that brings up the months total to the best monthly tally ever recorded of 74 species, I don't think there will be much left to add for sept. now!

Some great birds were seen today as well, HOBBIES continually hunted over my patch, at least two were present, a COMMON BUZZARD went over, and a KESTREL hunted as well, thats a '4 raptor' day with the Peregrine. Two WHEATEARS were feeding on the maize stubbles, along with MEADOW PIPITS, LINNETS,SKYLARKS and a mix of JACKDAWS, ROOKS and CARRION CROWS. Also at Migrant Alley, in the tall hedge, were a mix of YELLOWHAMMER, REED BUNTING, GREENFINCH and CHAFFINCH, they were making feeding forays into the Maize stubbles, making for an autumnal coloured scene.

At times the sky was full of migrating HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS, which passed over in varying numbers, from 20, to as many as a hundred. A YELLOW WAGTAIL that went over calling, made up the trio of wagtails, as I had recorded a GREY WAGTAIL this morning, and 58 PIED WAGTAILS that flew from thier roost at the Greenhouses.

A Whitethroat that was seen around the Greenhouse complex, was the latest ever recorded, by eight days, and will surely be the last until next spring.

Above and below a young HOUSE SPARROW

Below is a Hobby that alighted on a tree top, it was mercilessly mobbed by Jackdaws for 10 mins, before flying off.

I was a bit caught out by the weather this morning, I had a hat and coat on, thinking it would be as cool as recent mornings, but it was in fact very mild, and windless - for once.

It was barely light at 06:00 when I left the house, and not much was stirring, the ROBINS 'ticked' in the hedgerow along Ashes Lane, and WOODPIGEONS flew over, silhouetted against the eastern sky, a WREN let out a loud song, but that was drowned out by the yaffle of a GREEN WOODPECKER from the tree nursery. Just ten more species were found as I worked my way to Migrant alley, where I was a bit miffed to find a tractor ''mowing'' the maize stubbles. Blimey he must have been keen it was only 06:30!

The noise and disturbance of the tractor meant any birds that would have been around had gone elsewhere, however I did see two COMMON BUZZARDS drop down on one of the quieter fields, behind the Greenhouse Complex. I carried on down to the College stream, hoping to find my first Kingfisher of the month, but it did not oblige, I just carried on finding the usual suspects, Tits, Finch's, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH,COLLARED DOVE etc. I crossed the stream and went into the college grounds, again hoping to find a Kingfisher on one of the small ponds, but none was seen here either, JAY, CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP and GOLDCREST were good finds for the daylist though.

Back at Migrant Alley, the tractor had finshed, and all was quiet again, I watched 2 LESSER BLACKED GULLS fly down onto the disturbed ground, and heard LINNETS, PIED WAGTAILS and MEADOW PIPITS all come down onto the stubbles. I don't think the stubbles will be around all winter this year, as the field is going to be 'rotated' and it will be pasture next year, this could be a blow for finding those Sedge and Reed Warblers for next year! Anyway I moved down the paddocks a little further and was pleased to see both the WHINCHAT and the WHEATEAR along the fence rail. Overhead a HOBBY had an encounter with a SPARROWHAWK - they called it a draw I think, and a flock of mixed GULLS went over HERRING and BLACKHEADED, a few minutes later it was good to see four MISTLE THRUSH go over, not seeing much of them at the moment.

The second half of my walk was a fairly quiet affair, the normal woodland species were found, NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, BULLFINCH, but not one Long Tailed Tit was seen. Upon reaching the lake area I once more tried to find the elusive Kingfisher but again failed, I wasn't helped by the fishermen already there, shouting across from one side of the bank to the other!

I had reached 45 species after my circuit, but still had a bit of time to go and do half an hours skywatching at Migrant Alley, it didn't produce the Osprey or Honey Buzzard I wanted, but I did get HOUSE MARTIN, YELLOWHAMMER and two REED BUNTING for the daylist. 48 for the day is a good enough count for september, but still nothing new for the months list. Just one more will give me not only the september record, but will also equal the best ever months tally, reached in December last year, a strange month to have my best ever monthly count!


Above and below one of my old favourites - the Whinchat

Once again this morning I found a WHEATEAR at migrant alley as I walked to work, also a BLACKCAP was giving some quiet sub-song in the tall hedge, and a Male SPARROWHAWK flew low over the fresh cut maize.

This afternoons walk had a bit of a difference to it, I had agreed to take round one of the College students to aid him with his wildlife studies, so I left the camera at home. I met up with Robert the student, and found that he knew next to nothing about Birds, butterflies or any other wildlife, but I did my best to show him what could be around Migrant Alley. Almost the first bird I showed him was the REDSTART! The best views I have had yet of it ( 'cos I had no camera!) I tried to explain to Robert how much of a scarce bird this was on my patch, but to him all the birds were scarce - he had never seen most of them!

We walked round the maize crop and I showed him the LINNETS, which were now in a flock of around 35, also the PIED WAGTAILS, the different Corvids and how to seperate Rooks, Jackdaws and Carrion crows. We listened to the 'seep seep' calls of the MEADOW PIPITS that were flying out of the maize Stubbles, and I explained how they were not local birds, but birds that had probably come from the northern and western uplands. Then he had his second highlight of the day when a HOBBY flew low over us, circled round, and gave good photographic opportunities (grrr). The very next bird was a WHINCHAT, which meant more explaining of Migrant species. After two hours I let the poor man go, as I had probably confused him enough for one afternoon, but even as I was saying goodbye to him 3 Clouded Yellow butteflies flew past, a single and a pair, I had to inform him how unusual these butterflies were, so as to explain my excited behaviour.

After Robert left, I had great views of the Whinchat, so I rushed off home for my camera. luckily when I got back it was still around, but I couldn't get as close as I had earlier. Another walk round the Miaze stubbles/horse paddocks and more joy for me, in the form of a WHEATEAR. Once again I had recorded the Whinchat, Wheatear, and Redstart on the same afternoon, what a treat. I'm certain the Redstart is the same individual that I first recorded on the 12th, but the Whinchat and Wheatear may well have been different birds.

Despite all these scarce species being seen, none of them were new for my months list, and it remains static, at 72. Maybe i'll get something new on tomorrows morning visit.


Below is a Photo of a Peacock Butterfly, the first ive seen for ages.

Above and below is the Whinchat

Lastly, lots of Wheatear photo's, just because they are so photogenic and great birds!

As if to make up for the past two quieter days, today was much better, right from the off. As I walked into work I found a WHEATEAR at Migrant Alley (where else!) a good way to start the day.

This afternoon the wind was back, but not as bad as yesterday. I had already seen that the Maize crop had started to be harvested, as I walked home from work, so I went back over after a very quick lunch. I wanted to try to catch the last bit being harvested, this is where all the birds congregate, right up until the last minute, they have to dive into the nearset cover as their last refuge gets cut down - giving me time to see them. Unfortunately I was just a minute or two too late.

At least now I could see all the fence lines and posts right around Migrant Alley, and a quick scan revealed a small blob on one of the fences, about 100m away. As I got nearer I found it to be a WHINCHAT, fantastic! A Wheatear and Whinchat on the same day. I tried to get close enough for a photo, but it flew off into the Maize stubble and I lost view of it.

All around me HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS whizzed around taking the freshly disturbed insects, and I managed to pick out at least 3 SAND MARTINS amongst them - another good migrant species for my patch. A walk round the perimeter of the stubbles also gave me a couple of YELLOWHAMMER, and a little later 4 MEADOW PIPIT dropped down, if only every day could be like this!

I had a wander through the scrub area at the headland of migrant alley, and found a few Comma Butterflies as well as a Painted Lady and quite a few Speckled woods, but the best part was re-locating thr REDSTART, I tried to photograph it, but it was just impossible, as it kept moving about in a dense thicket. A quick Skywatch was all I had time for, but not one raptor was seen, which probably accounts for the amount of passerine activity I had today, I did have 2 MISTLE THRUSHES flyover though, only the second this month, and a GREY HERON went lazily overhead.

Whinchat, Wheatear and Redstart on the same afternoon, as well as the Sand Martins, this was quite something for my patch, about time I was given a bit of reward for my efforts. :-)

Above is a Comma Butterfly, below is the underside of it, you can just make out the white 'Comma' mark on its hind wing.

Beow is one of the Speckled Wood Butterflies

Next is my attempt to photograph one of the Housemartins, not a very good attempt, but an interesting bit of upside down flying!

lastly the Grey heron that flew low overhead.

Yesterday was wet and miserable, today was frustratingly windy, and dull, with just an odd glimpse of the sun. The wind was unrelenting, not the blustery kind with calmer moments, it just kept blowing!

I couldn't hear a thing as I walked over to the lake to try to find a Kingfisher, which i failed to do, only the usual MALLARD and MOORHEN were there. The scrub was devoid of 'seeable' birds, they were driven deep into cover by the wind, and as I couldn't hear above the roar of the trees being blown around, I gave up and decided to to a skywatch at Migrant Alley.

As soon as I sat down I saw a pair of SPARROWHAWKS going over, but not much else was about, a KESTREL hunted over the Maize, until a JACKDAW chased it off, and a HOBBY came through following a small group of HOUSE MARTIN and SWALLOWS. HERRING GULLS were plentiful, as is always the case in windy weather, but that was about it. A quick walk round the Maize crop only produced a few LINNETS and PIED WAGTAILS, but the obliging SEDGE WARBLER was seen again. As I walked home up Ashes Lane a COMMON BUZZARD soared overhead. To see four Raptors on the same afternoon can't be sniffed at, and I would once of been jumping up and down with excitement at seeing a Buzzard, so I suppose it wasn't that badder afternoon - I just wish this wind would drop a bit!

Oh! I forgot to say, yesterday and today one of the MARSH TITS was at the garden feeders, didn't take them long to come in from the wet woods!

Above is a LINNET, hunkering down against the wind.
Below is the Buzzard that flew over.

Above is the skywatching view across to the NW of my patch

Below is the view to the south, over the Greenhouse complex, the trees above the glass are the wet woods.

Well today was a miserable affair, it rained on and off all day, with a stiff N breeze.

This afternoon I ventured out anyway, hoping that a few migrant species would drop down into the maize and sit out the weather. When I arrived at Migrant Alley there was a group of 30 or so people gathered, a class from the college, fortunatley they didn't stay long, but as I peered through my bins at them, I noticed a small bird, just 30feet in front of the class, it looked like a Wheatear, but I was a long way off, none of them noticed it!

When the crowd moved off I walked down the weedy edge of the Maize crop to get a closer view of the bird, typically it flew off across the maize before I got within 50m of it. So I backed tracked and went to where I thought it went - in one of the horse paddocks. It didn't take long to find it again, perched on the fenceline, and indeed it was a WHEATEAR, just finding this migrant made it worth going out in the miserable conditions.

I wandered round the maize and paddocks, visited the scrub, and did a bit of skywatching, but not a great deal was noted. A SPARROWHAWK didn't help, it flew low and slow over the maize tops, and I watched it drop into the crop, a few seconds later 4-5 LINNETS came hurtling out, with the Sparrowhawk close behind, it picked out one bird and easily plucked it from the sky, leaving a puff of feathers, a sad end to a young Linnet that had survived this long into the summer.

My final walk up the weedy edge of the maize was rewarded with yet another sighting of probably the same SEDGE WARBLER that has been there for most of this month. Wheatear and Sedge warbler, two nice migrant species for my patch, and worth getting wet for.

Below is the Wheatear, but today was not a camera day!

There wasn't alot happening through Migrant alley as I walked home from work this afternoon,so after lunch I decided to visit the wet woods and lakeside scrub.
On the way I pass a newly harrowed field adjacent to ashes lane, this had a few gulls on it mostly HERRING, but also a couple of LESSER BLACK BACKED, and a single COMMON GULL, this was a new one for the month, they might be called Common, but they are anything but on my patch, just one more new species needed to equal the September record now!

I reckoned I could get Kingfisher on the months list if I hung around the lake long enough, but despite 40mins of searching, and only seeing MALLARD, MOORHEN and a GREY HERON on the water I had to concede defeat. My legs were aching by now, so I sat down around some old outbuildings between the lake and scrub, no longer had the blood started to return to my legs, when I saw a glimpse of a large raptor disappear behind one of the buildings only 50 or so feet away. I new what I thought it was, but I waited a second or two for it to re-emerge from the other side of the building, and when it did I was onto it straight away, yes!! A MARSH HARRIER (105) , What a bird to find on my patch, just the second one ever recorded! I only had a 3 second view of it, as it was flying so low, hugging the tree line. It went in the direction of the Tree Nursery, so off I went after it, as fast as my now re-juvenated legs could carry me! Alas when i got out into the open and on slightly higher ground, there wasn't a sign of it, despite much scanning of the sky, but I was elated anyway, not only had I now equalled the Sept. record, with a belter of a species, but I was also just one behind the best ever year list total, set last year.

I decided to carry on walking over to Migrant Alley, doing a circuit of the Maize, and walking along the scrub headland. The SEDGE WARBLER flew up from where it was seen last week at the weedy Maize edge, and above me a KESTREL hovered for a few seconds before flying NE. The scrub had two seperate families of BULLFINCH feeding on the ripe berries, but there was no sign of the Redstart today, the only summer visitor seen there was a CHIFFCHAFF.

A bit of a skywatch was had between 16:00 and 17:00hrs, and a HOBBY seen, as well as a COMMON BUZZARD, which was associating at times with a flock of gulls that were flying around a newly ploughed field, just off my patch. A sighting of a SPARROWHAWK gave me my fifth Raptor species of the day - something that is very rarely achieved, what an excellent afternoon, Oh! and I also saw another clouded yellow butterfly.

Above: A LINNET, dont be fooled by the blue sky, it was just a sunny interval between showers!

Below is a WREN, I don't have much luck with photographing Wrens.

Early sunshine gave way to a blanket of cloud this morning, and a cool northerly wind blew. The birds were not easy to locate first thing, with just 10 species being seen or heard in the hour between 06:00 and 07:00.

As the day warmed up a little, the birds came to life, but there were very few summer visitors left, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 BLACKCAP, a few HOUSE MARTIN and SWALLOW over Migrant Alley and the college stables. A couple of exciting migrants did turn up though, a WHINCHAT was sat atop the maize, enjoying the last of the sunshine, but it didn't stay around long, as there were a few dog walkers about - with loose dogs. I had a look around the scrubby headland at migrant alley, and I was surprised to see the REDSTART fly out from the same bush as yesterday, it went deep into cover, where it started to call, a real bonus bird, as previous Redstarts have only stayed for one day. A YELLOW WAGTAIL also flew over calling, I can't really grumble about that little trio on my patch!

47 species were seen in the 5 hour visit, but a few regulars didn't show today, no Geese were seen, or Yellowhammer, Kestrel or Hobby. I did hear the latter off patch, calling loudly, confirmed by the Oxon Hoath birder ( they were on his patch) and a NUTHATCH did come to my garden feeders later in the day, so thats 48 for the day really.

Other noteworthy sightings were a SPARROWHAWK, and 75 BLACK HEADED GULLS that flew over in a protracted flock. A Common buzzard was seen to the south of my patch too.

Above and below the Whinchat, not particularly clear photo's, but I liked the ripe maize in the top pic. :-)

Below is a Swallow, seen 2 hours after the Whinchat, look at the light difference!

It was good to get a morning visit to my patch today, it started slowly, probably due to the cool start, but picked up well as the day progressed. A CHIFFCHAFF was heard to sing in the tree nursery, and 4 CORMORANTS flew over as I stopped to listen. By the time I had reached Migrant Alley only 18 species had been seen, the nineteenth was added when a SEDGE WARBLER was seen at its usual place along the weedy edge of the Maize, but it was joined by another today. I didn't notice any other Migrants around and moved on to the Stream along the college and into the grounds. GOLDCREST and COAL TIT were seen, and HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS fed above, only just turned up from their roost. A KESTREL was seen being chased by a JACKDAW as I crossed the sports pitch to go back to Migrant Alley.

I decided to go along the footpath that runs through the scrub at the north end of Migrant alley, and soon had a bird fly across in front of me, it alighted halfway into a small oak tree, but I got my bins on it, and was delighted to see it was my first REDSTART (104 ) of the year! This really is a treat for my patch, I have only ever recorded them in 4 Autumns out of the 8 of watching my patch, and only ever see the one, so it could have easily been missed!

The Redstart was the 36th species, for the daylist, SKYLARK and BULLFINCH were added before my halftime break. After a snack I went round to the second part of my walk, the highlight of this was finding a large party of feeding birds, including BLUE, GREAT, COAL, MARSH and LONG TAILED TIT, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, Chiffchaff and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. On the lake there was just a few MALLARD, no sign of that Kingfisher I need for the months list! There were a few more BLACKCAPS in the scrub, at least 4 were seen.

After completing my circuit, I went back over to Migrant Alley to see if anything had dropped in - it had, a Superb WHEATEAR - I knew I was missing these migrants whilst wasting my time at work!! I also saw 4 MEADOW PIPITS, and presumably the same TURTLE DOVE as I saw yesterday was still around, 11 days later than the previous latest date.

47 species for the day was a reasonable list, but it should have reached 50, had any geese turned up, or the Pheasant, Yellowhammer or Stock Dove. The months list moves on to 70 - just 3 more will set the sept. record.


Below is the Wheatear
And below is a Small Copper butterfly I found in the Lakeside scrub.

Another fine sunny morning, if a bit chilly, with a NNE wind blowing. My usual short morning visit across Migrant Alley before work, produced a flyover YELLOW WAGTAIL and another glimpse of the 'brown Warbler', in exactly the same place as it has been all week now, maybe it will overwinter :-).

I also had good views of a TURTLE DOVE, and I got my fill of it, as surely this will be the last sighting of one until next April.

My afternoon visit was much the same as yesterday, I sneaked up on the brown warbler, and confirmed it was a SEDGE, i'll not complain at that, it's a good bird for my patch. Again two HOBBIES toyed with anything that was flying near them, they were around most of the 2 hours I was out. A distant Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were seen hunting off patch, but again there were no Whinchat or wheatear, I can't help feeling i'm missing them go through, whilst I'm working. However, i'll be out tomorrow all morning, hopefully one or the other will show. I don't expect a big species list tomorrow, there will be a lot of summer visitors that have left, but maybe I'll get the 3 species needed to equal the Sept, record. I can only really think of two with a decent chance of being seen though, Kingfisher or maybe the local Peregrine, I havn't had Lesser Whitethroat or Garden Warbler this month, but the odds are lengthening by the day of finding those species.

Whilst sneaking up on the Sedge Warbler a Clouded yellow butterfly came past, I saw it alight on some weeds and thought i'd get a pic of it, as I havn't got any photo's of this butterfly species.

Below is my first Clouded Yellow photo, the hind wing was much greener than in the photo, and the top wing was the yellowest of yellows.

The wind turned to a NNE today, always a better direction than the strong westerlies for bringing in a migrant bird or two. This seemed to be the case this morning, as I saw a few MEADOW PIPITS fly over, plus a YELLOW WAGTAIL, a pity I couldn't stay any longer - but work beckoned. :-(

As I walked back home through Migrant Alley, all was quiet, I wonder what had passed through this morning ? I gave it an hour, and by 15:00 I was back out walking the Maize and paddocks. The first thing I noticed was two HOBBIES, circling round, chasing each other, then chasing JACKDAWS, and then SWALLOWS. They stayed arounf for 45 mins or so then moved off south. I passed the the weedy edge of the Maize crop, and a brown warbler flew up and straight into the crop, missed it again! All the fence posts and rails were scanned for Whinchat or Wheatear, but none were seen today, so I settled down for a half hours skywatching, which produced a few more Meadow Pipits, and a SPARROWHAWK, but little else of note.

Another walk round the Maize, and again the brown warbler flew up from the same place, missed it - again. The scrub at the north end of the paddocks was checked out, but nothing was found here, not even a Chiffchaff. Once more I went down to check the fencelines and posts, just in case something had dropped in, but it hadn't. A last walk up the weedy edge of the maize to try and get that brown warbler was the last move left to find something decent for the afternoon. I new exactly where it was, so I crept up within ten meters, then crawled the rest of the way! I got to where I had seen it twice before, and poked my head up above the weeds, this time I saw the weeds move, and got my bins on it, I kept on the bunch of weeds and a REED WARBLER showed it's face, looking straight at me, gotcha this time ! Then as I watched another bird came into view - a SEDGE WARBLER, excellent! Two scarce migrants (for my patch) on the same bit of weed! The Reed Warbler is the latest ive seen one on my patch, mind you this is only the 3rd Autumn out of eight that i've recorded one. I can't help thinking though, that the bird I first saw fly up this afternoon, didn't really give me an impression of Reed or sedge warbler, maybe i'm just hankering after that Grasshopper warbler !

Things are picking up maybe ?

Below are a couple of photo's of the Hobbies

below is a photo of the ''weedy edge'' There's warblers in there somewhere!!

Last night I had another ''Owl listening'' session, expecting to hear some LITTLE OWLS which I did, but I also heard a female TAWNY OWL only the second one recorded this year, keeps the months list ticking over.

However, today the list really did come to a grinding halt, as is to be expected after finding 69 species so far this month. The walk to and from work, and the afternoon visit to Migrant alley and the tree nursery, produced very little of note, half a dozen MEADOW PIPITS moved through, a KESTREL was hunting around the greenhouse complex, and a Common Buzzard was seen just off my patch to the west. It seems the resident summer species have all moved on, and no migrant birds are coming through yet, so my patch is very quiet. I did see two warblers in the tall hedge at Migrant Alley this afternoon, and got some distant views, they were either Chiffchaff or Willow Warblers, but each time I moved nearer they went deeper into the hedge, normally these species are a bit more tolerant of my presence than that! If I had to make a stab at their ID i'd go for Willow warbler, but I cant count it, a shame, as it would have been a month tick.

A quick look at my 'last seen' dates for some of the summer migrants that breed on my patch, shows that I won't be recording most of them for very long now. Heres some figures. ( not including this year)

Hobby - 1st Oct

Turtle Dove - 1st Sept

Cuckoo - 5th Aug

Swift - 9th Sept

Swallow - 18th Oct

House martin - 22nd Oct

Lesser Whitethroat - 20th Sept

Whitethroat - 12th Sept

Garden Warbler - 14th Sept

Spotted Flycatcher - 14 Sept.

Chiffchaff and Blackcaps can sometimes overwinter so I didn't include them.

A taste of summer was had today, the temperature at 07:00 was already in the mid-teens, and the birds were active much earlier as a result. A TURTLE DOVE was seen again, this one flew low and fast south, and a small brown warbler flew from the maize, but I couldn't get onto it quick enough for an ID, probably a Sedge warbler. Thats all I had time for as i walked in to work.

This afternoon it was hot, so I left my walk until much later than normal to avoid the heat, there wasn't any activity at Migrant Alley as I walked back from work anyway. I got out around 16:00 and scanned the fields and maize, but nothing was about today, even the PIED WAGTAILS and LINNETS were fewer than recent days. I decided to watch the sky for an hour to see what might turn up, and saw 2 HOBBIES, a KESTREL, a SPARROWHAWK and a GREY WAGTAIL all go over, but it was a quiet day today.

These PHEASANTS walked up the footpatch towards me as i skywatched, they were looking heavily in moult.

Below are a coule of views from my skywatch position, one of the tower, where the peregrines live. The bottom photo is a view past the tall hedge.

Yesterday evening I carried out my 'owl' watch from the back bedroom window, I needed just one more species to get 60 for the day for the first time ever. Well I listened from 20:00hrs until 20: 45hrs, but didn't hear on Owl...........I heard two! Yes!! A couple of LITTLE OWLS called for a few minutes, bringing me 60 species in a day, quite something on my patch, there have been some whole months in the past when i havn't seen 60 species, and the months list moves on by one!

Back to today, and back to work. As I walked in this morning, it was obviously to early for birds, nothing seems to be about until around 07:15. having said that I did hang about Migrant Alley for as long as I could without being late to unlock the School, and was rewarded with a flyover GREY WAGTAIL, another or the same went over just a minute or two later, the months list moves on to 68, 5 more species to beat the sept record!

I was out at 14:30hrs this afternoon, and had a skywatch session at Migrant Alley, the sky was a bit wierd today, a bank of cloud was to the west, and it was clear to the east, the dividing line was directly overhead, and I was on the sunny side, I was hot, and at times I longed for a piece of that cloud to come over! Anyway, I saw 3 HOBBIES came over, jousting and sparring with each other, and later in the visit another was seen. Two SPARROWHAWKS were about, and 5 Common Buzzards were up soaring, but to the NE of my patch. Another TURTLE DOVE was found on the fence rail of one of the paddocks, making it the latest ever seen, but apart from that it was the usual fare of PIED WAGTAILS, LINNETS, SKYLARKS and CORVIDS. I did see a BULLLFINCH and a CHIFFCHAFF in the scrubby headland at the north end of Migrant alley on a quick walk round though. I wonder what Migrants I missed while I was at work !


Above: One reason for not having a migrant Wheatear/whinchat on the fenceline was this Sparrowhawk!
Below is a ROOK, one of the 100 or so that hang about the paddocks daily.

The good run of species continued this morning, but it was hard going, for the first hour I had just 13 species on my list, but one was a new one for september - a CANADA GOOSE, thirty seven flew low over the tree nursery. But the rest of the birds were very late rising!
The only migrant I saw was a flyover YELLOW WAGTAIL as I passed through Migrant Alley. Things began to improve around 07:15, when I saw 7 MEADOW PIPITS fly over, they were being shadowed by a HOBBY, I watched it close in on them from behind, speeding up as it reached them, the Pipits split in panic, it was like watching an old WW2 film when a Spitfire dives into a flight of bombers! unfortunately the Pipits went right into the path of another Hobby, the two birds then chased the Pipits but I didn't see a kill, was it a planned ambush or just coincidence that two hobbies were chasing the same birds ?

Clever Hobby below


I finished the College grounds, with not many more species on my list, just 23, very poor! My spirits were once again lifted as I entered Migrant alley on my return journey, two Yellow Wagtails had dropped in to the horse paddocks. I then noticed a bird flyover my head and back over to the College stables, where it alighted on one of the buildings, I got my bins on it and found it to be a WHEATEAR, it's rarely I see them away from the paddocks! I had a go at photographing the Yellow Wagtails, then just as I moved on I looked up to see another new species for the month, MUTE SWAN flying over, it had almost gone past me when I spotted it, I must pay more attention! Mute swan is a scarce bird on my patch, not had one since June.

I passed the place where I had seen a small brown bird hop from the weeds into the maize yesterday and sure enough at almost the same spot up one went, this time it didn't disappear, it stayed on the edge of the maize and I confirmed yesterdays suspicions that it was indeed a SEDGE WARBLER, an excellent Sept. record. After this success I tried my luck at the place where I thought I had also seen a grasshopper warbler yesterday - but no luck. I walked back passed the tall hedge and again saw the two REED BUNTINGS, I watched them fly into the maize, which drew my attention to a large bird in the sky, I though it was a Heron, but as it came directly over I saw it was a GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL, another brillliant bird for my patch, and the 4th sept. addition for the day!

As I neared home I checked the daylist and was suprised to find I had amassed 43 species for the halfway point. The second half of my walk to the Small holding, Wet Woods, and lake/scrub area gave me all I could reasonably expect, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, and GOLDCREST were again seen in a feeding flock with 5 Tit species, BLUE, GREAT, COAL, LONG TAILED and the most scarce by far MARSH TIT, and as yesterday they were harrassed by a SPARROWHAWK. Both BLACKCAP and COMMON WHITETHROAT were seen in the Scrub, and GREY HERON and MALLARD were on the lake. A check of my list showed that I was now on 54 species, a really good count for my patch, but I had not seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel,Yellowhammer, Pheasant or Mistle Thrush, surley i could get these on the list and maybe reach 60 for the day for the first time!

I decided to go over to migrant alley again and scan the skies, and although I flushed up a female PHEASANT none of the other species showed so I was stuck on 55. I just had to get out for an afternoon visit to find those missing species, so after lunch I convinced the wife it was a nice afternoon for a walk - to migrant alley! We sat on my seat and scanned the sky (well I did) and it wasn't long before I got onto a COMMON BUZZARD 56 now, and it was new for the months list! Ten mintes later I scanned the fenceline for a Whinchat, but instead found a TURTLE DOVE - 57! Plus another for the Sept. list! This really was a good find for the month, as it's the latest ever recorded. The wind came up and Joy felt cold, so we made our way home ( blast it), but the ''fat lady'' hadn't sung yet, ( no I dont mean Joy!) I looked across migrant alley one more time and found, at last, bounding across to the woods a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 58! So close, but I came closer still when Joy pointed out ''that bird'' hovering over the greenhouses, a KESTREL, 59! almost there!!! Oh for that Yellowhammer or Mistlethrush. I dragged my feet all the way back home, looking and scanning but I couldn't find that 1 more species needed. My last chance is to listen out for a Littel owl tonight - I'll let you know.

What a day again, the best ever day total and 6 more for the sept. list bringing it to 66, just 6 more to equal the record now!


Below is one of 4 Yellow wags seen toady ( to the left of the Horses head!)

Above and below : More Reed bunting pics. Not very good light today

I was up and out at 06:00hrs this morning, keen to make my first full walk of my patch this month, and what a cracking visit I had. The daylist reached 52 species, noteworthy in itself, but in it included 8 new species for the month.

It started off a bit slow, and I wondered if the quiet start to september would continue, I needed have worried though, after jotting down the familiar leaders of my list, WOODPIGEON, ROBIN, MAGPIE, JACKDAW, BULLFINCH, CARRION CROW, and CHAFFINCH, the eighth species found was a GREYLAG GOOSE, 2 flew over the tree nursery, and straight onto the september list!
Another 17 species later, which included 3 GULL species, LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED, the next newcomer to the september list was found a WHEATEAR, at Migrant Alley, at this stage it was the only migrant species seen there, so I carried on and walked along the stream and college grounds, picking up another 9 species, the best of which were a SPARROWHAWK and two singing CHIFFCHAFF. On my return to migrant alley, I was pleased to see a pair of REED BUNTINGS in the tall hedge, the days third new entry onto the monthly list, but better still was finding 2 REED WARBLERS a little further down, amongst a small scrubby area in the greenhouse grounds.

I got home and rushed a snack and drink, and was out again 5 mins later. I walked the second half of my patch, and picked up GREEN and GOLDFINCH in the small holding, as well as a SONGTHRUSH, all 3 species had somehow eluded me earlier! A feeding flock of passerines were found in the wet woods, which included the usual suspects, BLUE, GREAT, COAL and LONG TAILED TITS, as well as a NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST and another Chiffchaff. the lake area was scanned carefully for the Coot, but it seems to have gone, just MALLARDS, MOORHENS, and a GREY HERON were found. A quick look around the adjacent scrub area produced the fourth new species for the month - a BLACKCAP - at last!

I decided I would take another look around Migrant Alley, as I had all day ( the wife was out visiting her mum at Hastings) I was glad I did, I went to find the Wheatear again to try and photograph it, and found it had been joined by a WHINCHAT, and in the paddocks a lone YELLOW WAGTAIL had dropped in, they must have arrived in the last 90mins! Thats two more for the month. I stayed around for another two hours, and added YELLOWHAMMER to the daylist, but the species I had been waiting and listening out for arrived as well, when a single MEADOW PIPIT flew over calling its seep seep seep call. I can always rely on these migrant birds pepping up the sept. list. Last year they arrived on my patch on the 7th, which was the joint earliest ever arrival date, with 2006, so that earliest date has now been re-set! During the rest of the afternoon another 3 singles flew over and a group of 3, so they are really on the move now!

During the two hour extra stay at Migrant alley, I must have walked round the Maize edges 5-6 times, and each time I kept flushing up Little Brown Jobs! I am sure that they were sedge warblers, but I got such fleeting views that i couldn't be sure. Another frustrating moment was had when I sat on the fence for a rest, I looked down at the wedy edge of the maize and saw what I believed to be a Grasshopper warbler, my heart was pounding, this would be a patch tick! I needed to get my bins on it, but it saw me move and darted back into the maize - never to be seen again. I 90% sure it was a Grasshopper warbler - but I just didn't get my bins on it to confirm it---BUGGER!!!!!!! At least on my way back home I saw the 6oth species for the month, a flyover CORMORANT, I only need 12 more species to equal the sept record now - only!

below is one of the Reed Buntings in the Tall hedge

Next are 3 pics of the Whichat, because i love 'em!

Next is the Wheatear, I love them too!

Below is the Yellow Wagtail

And next is a WREN, a bit of compensation, as I was trying to photograph the Reed warblers - they flew in the bramble and the wren came out.

I also saw this rather dark looking Speckled wood butterfly, looks in good nick though.

The strong wind continues to blow, but at least the showers have stopped. It's very difficult to hear anything with the wind blowing, or see anything in the tree's and bushes as they are tossed about! However I did manage to add 4 new species to the months list, the first was a flyover MISTLE THRUSH that went over Migrant Alley this morning, not seen many of them recently.

This afternoon I repeated yesterdays walk around the Wet woods, lake and scrub area, with just a brief look over Migrant Alley.As I started out, I was thinking what would be the next species on the months list - the 50th, and I didn't have to wait long, a MARSH TIT, it was seen and heard in a sheltered spot on the edge of a large garden by the small holding. I entered the wet woods and soon found a feeding flock of LONG TAILED TITS, with them were COAL, BLUE and GREAT TITS, as well as a TREECREEPER and a NUTHATCH, one more for sept. The Coal Tits looked a real treat in their new plumage. The next addition for the months list announced itself by sending the feeding flock into a frenzy of alarm calls, a male SPARROWHAWK came expertly whizzing through the tangle of branches and tree trunks, but didn't catch anything. A meander round the scrub for a Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, or maybe a garden Warbler, failed miserably, and a scan of the lake didn't give me anything either, yesterdays star bird, the Coot had moved on, or was very concealed.

A walk round Migrant Alley was disappointing, just PIED WAGTAILS, LINETS, SKYLARKS, WOODPIGEONS and Corvids were seen, the run of Migrants seems to have dried up ever since September arrived, no surprise though, as thats when the weather got stormy.

Below is a photo of the 50th species this month - The Marsh Tit. It's such a poor pic. I wasn't going to put it on, but it's the only photograph I got!

Yet again it was blustery and showery today, although the showers were fewer than yesterday.
As I walked home from work, I saw that the the annual destruction of the hedgerows, and cutting down of the long grass and thistleheads had began, oh, sorry, I mean keeping the countryside tidy had began. So visiting Migrant Alley this afternoon was pointless with all that destruction - oops! sorry there I go again - I mean tidying going on.

I decided I would go over to the lake via the wet woods, and try to get some of the easier species not yet on my Sept list. TREECREEPER and COAL TIT called in the woods, but they're on the list already, however the MOORHEN I saw there wasn't, nor was the flock of LONG TAILED TITS, that streamed their way through the Oak canopy. I made my way over to the Lake, and could already hear the MALLARDS calling, but the next species was a real bonus and most unexpected - a COOT! Yes the humble Coot, a real rarity on my patch, as regular readers of this blog will know. I always get a single bird over the winter months, but this is only the second September sighting, the other was back in 2004. As I was photographing the rarity, a GREY HERON dropped in, one more for the monthly list, but I couldn't find a Lesser Whitethroat or Blackcap today, the former species may be hard to find this month. As I left the lake area I cut through the tree nursery, and was plesed to have a YELLOWHAMMER join the list. Two hobbies were seen going over towards the stables at the college. Six more for the month list today then, and one a real bonus bird!


Here's the star bird of the day, enjoying one of the hefty rain showers that passed through.

The autumnal weather arrived today, as blustery showers moved through right from dawn till dusk. I did manage to dodge the showers for an hour or so this afternoon, and it even brightened up for about 20mins!

I walked my usual 'Autumn' walk through Migrant Alley, hoping to find a migrant or two, but the wind made things very difficult. At least 3 SANDMARTINS flew through, and a HOBBY was seen on a couple of occasions, one on the walk in to work that was sitting on a fence line at migrant alley, only the second one i've seen come down and alight onto my patch! A COMMON WHITETHROAT was found in the scrub at the northern end of the paddocks - thats 3 more for the monthly total, but no other passage visitors were found. There were many HERRING GULLS and a few LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS flying around, attracted to nearby stubbles that were being ploughed in, also 5 BLACK HEADED GULLS were seen going over, they join the sept list, which is now at 42. I should get into the mid 50's by the end of this weekend after a couple of full circuits of my patch.

Below is a Photo of a Female Common blue butterfly, I found this by the Greenhouses, during the ''bright'' spell.

Below: One of the lesser Black backed Gulls that flew over.

A new month and a fresh start to the months list, the target for september is to beat 72 species, set last year, a very tough one!
August's total ended on the joint highest, along with last years, an excellent 70 species were seen. However not one of them was new to the 8 year combined August total, which remains at 77, the second lowest combined monthly species total, only November is worse with 75. This is despite all those passage migrant species that passed through. August has the 4th highest mean monthly total of species recorded of 64.4, so the figures suggest more can be found in August!

Any way back to today, and it was also back to work. A quick scan of the tall hedge at migrant alley, on the way through gave me a good species for september, a REED WARBLER. The recording of this species on my patch has been phenomenal this year, to think some Autumns I have not seen one at all! A more common bird, but not at this time of the year, was also seen - a SWIFT, the last was seen on Aug. 1st. I thought this species had long gone now, and the next sighting would be next spring, this is just the second Sept. Swift record in the 8 years of watching my patch.

No Wheatear, Whinchat or Yellow Wagtails were seen on my walk in, or indeed on my afternoon patch visit. The wind had increased, and was making things very difficult to hear, also a few blustery showers went through making things more frustrating. A few birds were put on the sept. list though - TREECREEPER, KESTREL, STOCKDOVE, SKYLARK, LINNET, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, also HERRING and LESSER BLCK BACKED GULL, as well as a dozen more common species.

I didn't get any photo's this afternoon, except of these two Tit species at my garden feeders. I recorded a CHIFFCHAFF in the garden as well, the first one this year, the 29th species to enter the garden for 2009.

Below is the GREAT TIT
and the BLUE TIT, they have almost finished thier moulting now, and will get much more colouful as the autumn progresses.