Monday 16 August 2010

After a fruitless morning walking into work, in grey, cool and windy conditions, it was all change on the walk back home. The sun was out and it was warm, although the NW wind was still blowing, but I didn't mind that wind as it had brought me a new species for the year to my patch, a fantastic WHINCHAT (98, 73) it was waiting for me on a fence post at Migrant Alley :-) . I always hope for this species to come through Migrant Alley, and most years I get one, maybe two, so i'm pleased to add this dapper little migrant to my year list, which is just two short of my target of 100 now.

I rushed home to get my camera, and after a bite to eat went out to see if I could photograph the Whinchat. I found it where I had left it, and got some acceptable images of it, but how surprised was I when I looked along the fenceline and saw a WHEATEAR, two little migrants on the same day, this is quite an event for my patch ! I took a distant photo of it, then sat down at a discreet distance to enjoy the birds.

Over at the Greenhouse Complex a KESTREL was hunting, and was being mobbed by a gang of SWALLOWS, as they broke of the game, they swooped down low over the sheep pasture and I was well pleased to see a SAND MARTIN (74) in with them, 3 migrants in the same day, one a year tick and two new for the month, this was a good afternoon :-) Unfortunately, I had to break off early as I had a dentist appointment, typical, I felt sure I was on for something even better to come along :-)

98 species for the year list is tantalisingly close to my 100 target for the year, and is in joint 4th place for the 9 years of recording - so far. The 74 species for the month is running all over the previous best August tally of 70, in fact this August has been the 3rd best month ever for species seen!

Above and below a fantastic Whinchat

Whilst below is an almost ( but not quite) equally fantastic Wheatear

A couple of Butterfly species were seen as I walked back home through the Tree Nursery
this Common Blue below...........
................... and this large White



10 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

Glad you finally got your Whinchat, what a lovely drop of weather this afternoon. We had over 1,000 Curlew and several thousand Oystercatchers whilst doing the WEBS count late 'safternoon.

Chris said...

A wheatear, have they already left to go to your side, gosh the summer went to quickly!!! Well done on the whinchat! 98 species, woo that's really good!

Unknown said...

Lovely shots of the Whinchat and Wheatear.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

My word! - you're on a roll Warren, and only half the month gone! Could really do with a Whinchat at the mo

Cheers

Davo

Jason K said...

What a stunning Whinchat..theyve got to be one of my favourite birds...nice photos too

Bob Bushell said...

Oh your so lucky, to get a Whinchat. Thanks for showing it.

Pete Woodruff said...

I'm as pleased as everyone else including you of course Warren regarding the Whinchat, as good as finding a 'mega' these days and a bird we're slowing 'loosing' I'm afraid, but here's hoping this can be reversed in some way or other, perhaps nature itself can do it for us.

Anonymous said...

Well done on adding to both the month/year lists Warren.
I`m with Dave in that i would love a Whinchat to grace my patch.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
The way you're going , you could hit the 100 for the month , never mind the year .
If you have time on Friday , Noar Hill , SU740325 is a good butterfly site , close by , but weather doesn't look very good .

Jann said...

Congrats on the Whinchat Warren, sounds like you had one of those spot-on good days out in the field. I enjoyed seeing all the photos, nice!