Sunday 12 August 2012

The fine weather continued for this mornings full patch walk, which was not much different from yesterday, WILLOW WARBLERS were a feature of the day, with 4 birds on patch, one at the Greenhouse Complex, one at the lake area, and two at the College Grounds, where again a GARDEN WARBLER was seen, still in the same silver birch where I saw it yesterday. BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, WHITEHROAT, SWALLOW, and SPOTTED FLYCATCHER made up the other summer species recorded today, the GREY WAGTAIL was again at one of the College Garden ponds.

Whilst looking over at the lakes and Scrubby Woods, I was pleased to see that the BARNACLE GOOSE (59) had returned to my patch, after a month away elsewhere, this was the only addition to the months list today, the August total, now on 58, is only limping along, last year I had 59 species in the first two days of the month!

Raptors today were only represented by a KESTREL, the family have well and truly dispersed now, plus a low flying BUZZARD that was over the Pub Field, the wheat of which is now being harvested, it will be interesting to see how long the stubble is left in situ, if not ploughed in until late winter then numbers of Pipits and larks can be expected, but if, as is normally the case with modern farming, it is ploughed in before the summer is out, then it will be fit for nothing but Gulls!

Not much action for the camera today, just this heavily moulting BLACKBIRD was photographed.
Blackbird



4 comments:

Marc Heath said...

I know what you mean Warren. Although the sun was out and the light was good there was not much wanting to pose for a photo other than cyclists and tourists, a problem at Reculver normally after 10am!

Warren Baker said...

Hi Marc,
That 'golden hour' after dawn soon whizzes past, and if nothing is on the camera by them, its a real struggle!

Got a bit of a virus today as well which didn't help, kept coughing! :-)

ShySongbird said...

Hi Warren :-) Lovely Blackbird photo today. I hope that farmer leaves the stubble alone for a while so you see some larks and pipits.

Hope you are feeling better...it's much too soon for man flu ;-)

Warren Baker said...

Feel worse today Songbird, some kind of chest infection :-(