Monday 17 September 2012

A couple of hours were spent out this afternoon, visiting the usual spots on my patch where an Autumn migrant might turn up, but it was not to be today. A few passage MEADOW PIPITS flew over the Tree Nursery, where a couple of noisy JAYS flew from an Oak tree, the Pub Field was empty, but lots of HOUSE MARTINS where wheeling around high over it. Much scanning of fence lines and pasture/paddocks was done at Migrant Alley, but apart from a few GOLDFINCH and the usual ROOKS, JACKDAWS and WOODPIGEONS, all was quiet here, to fair be though there was quite a bit of disturbance today from dog walkers, tractors and stable girls mending the paddock fences  :-(

I ended up watching the sky from my seat, which proved the most productive part of the visit today, more Meadow Pipits, House Martins and a few SWALLOWS were seen, along with a few HERRING and BLACK HEADED GULLS, best of all was seeing four raptor species, those being KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, COMMON BUZZARD and the bird of the day a HOBBY.

Even the Raspberry Dump was less active than usual, I had a peak over it as I walked home, and saw a CHIFFCHAFF, 4 WRENS, 2 ROBINS and 2 DUNNOCKS, but resisted the temptation of a photo, in fact i didn't get any photo's whilst out today, and even though I spent 40 minutes in my garden hide (shed!) not much turned up, I missed the NUTHATCH, and a fine looking Immature STARLING, so all I can offer are these, not the best efforts though  :-)
I was so close to this COLLARED DOVE I didn't need to crop the photo at all, I should have backed the zoom off to get its tail and feet in!
These young GREENFINCH'S are not much to look at now, but come the winter they will be little green stunners :-)
BLUE TIT, most of this years young are now acquiring there adult plumage

9 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Its getting tough out there Warren. Iv'e given up on the birds at the moment, more enjoyable photographing dragonflies that just sit there!

Alan Pavey said...

Nice pics mate, hoping to get a quick look at the patch tomorrow, I don't mind what I see anything will do :-)

Alan Pavey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Warren Baker said...

Hi Marc,
It will be even tougher when the sunshine goes! Not seen any Damsels here for a while now :-(

Warren Baker said...

Hi Alan,
Its a fun time of year,on one hand you might get a patch tick, on the other it could be completely dead out there :-) Good luck anyway!

Rohrerbot said...

Love the up close on the collared dove. Beautiful detail. As for the weather, it's finally getting better here and we were out for a good 6 hours birding yesterday!!! It was great. I slept well last night:)

Unknown said...

Super Blue tit image and great header as well.

ShySongbird said...

Great photos again Warren, all regulars in my garden, Greenfinches (along with Goldfinches) are probably the birds most often seen at my feeders.

Warren Baker said...

Hello Songbird,
Cant wait for some winter visitors to the feeders, siskin in particular :-)