Sunday 2 October 2011

It was a relief to find that there was no fog on my patch this morning, just a few patches of low lying mist that soon burnt off with the increasing warmth of the sun, which today I could at last get some photo's of as it rose, it was like looking at a globe of liquid gold.

''Liquid Gold'''



Sunrise at Pittswood
Once the sun was fully up it became hot again, keeping the birds hidden up, well, most of them anyway, and I struggled to find much more than I did in the fog yesterday. A TREECREEPER (43) was new for the month, it was with a flock of LONG TAILED TITS found along the College Stream, also at the College, in the gardens, I found the first COAL TIT (44) of the month.

Another bird to join the months list was my first COMMON GULL (45) of the Autumn, it flew over Migrant Alley, closely followed by a string of 8 SKYLARKS. By nine o'clock I was over at the Scrubby Woods and lake area, and the heat of the day was already building, consequently very little bird activity was noted, just the usual regulars, but the NUTHATCH (46) was an addition for the month, and it was nice to see a flock of 6 BULLFINCH feeding on the now shrivelled Elder berries.

I finished the visit, as I always try to do, by having a sky watch over on my seat at Migrant Alley, but the heat was too much for me, my seat being exposed to the full force of the sun, and I lasted for just 40mins - I can sit much longer in a freezing NE gale in February!!  I did get to see both KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK (47), plus a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL (48) which took the day list to 42. I suppose I'll have to get used to these low species totals, now virtually all the summer birds have gone, and the winter birds have yet to arrive.

One thing I noted whilst at home, which I have never witnessed before, was the Sparrowhawk visiting my garden, and taking a bank vole, it must have been hungry!


Long Tailed Tit - just checking the leaves for spiders and the likes :-)



HERRING GULL

15 comments:

Rohrerbot said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rohrerbot said...

Oops sorry. When they right "Comment Deleted", it looks like it was something terrible I wrote when in fact, I meant to say...excellent sunrise shots instead of sunset shots. Oh well. Hope you enjoy your the rest of your day.

Rohrerbot said...

Okay...and I meant to say "write". Definitely time to go outside and do some work.

Wilma said...

wonderful LTT shot.

Warren Baker said...

Enjoy your day Rohrerbot :-)

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Sperb shot that Liquid gold - well done!

Cheers

Davo

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Wilma, they are lovely little birds, and so confiding at times :-)

Unknown said...

Fantastic Sunrise images.

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Anthony. Still trying to comment on your blog, cant seem to sort it!

Bob Bushell said...

Let the sun light its way on. The birds are beautiful.

Marc Heath said...

Great sunrise shots as well as the Long tailed Tit.

Jason K said...

Cracking sunrise photos Warren

Anonymous said...

Not very often you hear me say this, Warren. But we were blessed with a cloudy sky.

Ken. said...

Hi Warren.
I normally comment on hoe good you wildlife shots are, but this time I must say how wonderful your sunrise photo's are.Looks like they should be framed.

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Warren, the sunrises have certainly been very impressive lately as your shots show, great.
The list is off again, I had 41 on my first visit this month. :-)