The Whinchat also allowed me to get a little closer!
Back to today, and it was a day of two halves, I started off at 06:00, in calm conditions with patchy cloud, but before 10:00 a huge bank of black cloud had rolled in, and showers fell, but after lunch I was out again to finish the visit.Quite a few migrants were noted early on, the WHINCHAT was still at Migrant Alley, but no Wheatears today, and a TURTLE DOVE was on the overhead power lines that cross the fields and paddocks. CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP and WHITETHROAT were seen, as well as two SAND MARTINS that flew over the Greenhouse Complex, where the undoubted sighting of the day occurred, no fewer than 14 COMMON TERNS (103, 74) were seen going over, heading south, calling as they went, 14 is more than I've seen in the last 9 years combined! I was hoping to add this species to the year list, but they are by no means annual birds here :-)
Other bits and pieces seen before the rain set in were, a LITTLE OWL calling from the Greenhouse Copse, HOBBY, SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL up hunting, and flyovers form LESSER BLACK BACKED, BLACK HEADED and HERRING GULL as well as GREY HERON and 2 CORMORANTS.
I got over to the lakes and scrubby woods this afternoon, and added the the usual woodland species to the list - NUTHATCH, TREECREEPER, LONG TAILED TIT, as well as good sighting of a LESSER WHITETHROAT, I also saw the only SONGTHRUSH of the day. On the water MALLARD and MOORHEN were joined by four CANADA GEESE and the BARNACLE GOOSE, nice to see it on the lake :-)
From there I walked over to the Tree Nursery and did another circuit of Migrant Alley, where I added flyovers from BUZZARD, STOCK DOVE and a lone SWIFT. At the end of the protracted visit, I had recorded a massive 55 species, 56 if I include the COAL TIT seen in my Garden, so near to the magic 60 species in a day, if only the likes of Skylark, Yellowhammer, House Martin and Mistle Thrush had shown, most of whom are regulars! I have only ever seen 60 species in a day once on my patch.
I only took a couple of photo's in the poor conditions today, below is a Common Blue Butterfly
Above and below - Approaching black clouds.
12 comments:
Well done with the uncommon, common terns Warren, that's a great inland sighting. That puts us both on 103 for the year and still four months to go.
The Grey Wagtail is hoping that big thing doesn't start eating him by mistake.
Phil, i'm aiming for 105 this year :-)
Bob, The Wagtail is a bit quicker than that old nag!!
Excellent sighting, Common Terns, not had those here yet!! 50 for the day as well great day :-)
Excellent on the Common Terns, no doubt a big bonus for your patch, nice set of shots as well.
Warren, A lovely shot of the Common Blue on the Willowherb going to seed.
The winchat picture is very nice and I would love to see this guy one day as that would be a lifer... This first shot of yesterday is simply splendid Warre... What a nice composition and encounter of the grey wagtail and the big guy ;-) Gorgeous!
I do love that first shot; what a contrast!
Well done on the flock of Terns, Warren. Can you slow down now, please, and give me a chance to catch up ;-)
Those Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears are starting to move through in numbers Warren, so it should be a good few days.
Cracking Common Blue photo btw
Hi Warren
Yellow wags have been noticable up here in the last couple of weeks, seeing one or two most days flying south, and quite a few turning up with the more usual pied wag flocks on the beach too...
Send me up a whinchat please, it might keep me going for a bit !
Love the shot of the horse and bird...wonder what he's thinking?:)
Post a Comment