Sunday 4 September 2011


The forecast rain stayed off until I had finished my full patch walk this morning, but it didn't help much! The four hour walk produced a measly total of just 39 species, a full dozen fewer than this time last week, the high point was hearing a YELLOW WAGTAIL fly over the College Grounds, where, interestingly, I heard a TREECREEPER singing, another was heard to sing later in the walk as I passed through the Wet Woods.

Summer visitors were few, with just two BLACKCAPS seen, one in the Scrubby Woods over by the lakes, and the other in the Greenhouse Complex Grounds, where the only WHITETHROAT of the day was also seen. CHIFFCHAFFS are still quite abundant, with 10 -12 birds still calling around my patch.

I'm still waiting to record the likes of Pheasant, and Mistlethrush this month, which is turning out to be a bit of a slow starter, with just 51 species recorded in the first four days...........Until this afternoon that is, when I had a quick 40 minute wander around the fields and paddocks at Migrant Alley. I had a suspicion that something may have dropped in during the rain earlier, and was proved correct, when not only my first two SANDMARTINS (52) 0f the month flew over, but also 3 WHEATEAR (53) were feeding in one of the paddocks. To round of the afternoon, 2 HOBBIES and a BUZZARD were also up hunting, plus a few HOUSE MARTINS were seen going over, taking the days list to a more respectable 44  :-)


Wheatears
The third Wheatear can just be made out, in the top right hand corner of the above photo, well half of it!
Wheatear

Wheatears

8 comments:

Marc Heath said...

you have certainly done well with the Wheatears this year, no doubt they are on there way to the coast for me to see.

Kelly said...

...the first photo is sweet, Warren! I really like it...

Bob Bushell said...

Nice photos Warren.

Warren Baker said...

Hi Marc,
Wheatear passage this year has been the best so far.

No doubt if they come your way you'll get some proper photo's :-)

Warren Baker said...

Glad you like the Wheatears Kelly, they are a cracking little bird, they turn up here in small numbers each spring and Autumn. As you have seen, I do like to get them on my Blog posts!

Anonymous said...

You`re steaming ahead, again, Warren.

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Warren, nice Wheatear shots, great to see you recorded Osprey while I was away, always a great addition to the list.

Jason K said...

You've done it again mate. I think I'm gonna rename you Warren 'two migrants in one shot' Baker!