Monday 24 September 2012

Welcome to Autumn! The first taste of Autumnal weather arrived this morning, light rain was followed by torrential rain, then strong and blustery winds. Needless to say it wasn't too good for patch watching, however it did stop raining once I got home from work, so I decided to pay a visit to the lakes, maybe something was sheltering from the elements there. I was disappointed though, as only a GREY HERON, two MALLARDS and a few MOORHEN were seen.

I quickly moved on, as the strong wind made it impossible to hear anything in the Scrubby Woods, and made my way over to the Tree Nursery and Migrant Alley, both these places were full of overflying SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS, a couple of hundred birds were whizzing around, mostly Swallows.

Migrant Alley looked Autumnal, as a flock of around 150 STARLINGS fed out in the sheep pasture, along with 100 or so JACKDAWS and ROOKS, a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL went over, as did a few HERRING GULLS, and the KESTREL was seen up on the adjacent Greenhouse rooves, a CHIFFCHAFF was the only warbler seen, it fed in the tall hedge behind my sky watching seat, but apart from that it was a very subdued visit.

I was home by 16:00hrs, and spent 40 minutes in my garden shed, the sun had just started to break though allowing for some garden bird photography  :-)
GREAT TIT
CHAFFINCH
Chaffinch
I also took some more Blue Tit and Nuthatch photo's, but i'll save them for tomorrows blog  :-)

11 comments:

Pete Woodruff said...

It has rained - I was tempted to call it otherwise but respect your visitors Warren - all day today, is still doing so now, and is forecast to do so all day tomorrow.

Not too keen on your being in the garden shed for 40 minutes Warren!

Marc Heath said...

what a bloody awful day. Poor old birds although it might ground something for you.

Warren Baker said...

Not much about out on patch today Pete, I wanted to photograph the Jays that have been in the garden over the past two days, but they are too wary of me :-)

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
I was hoping just that Marc, I thought I might at least get a reed Bunting, but it was just too windy out there today :-(

Anonymous said...

Didn`t stop raining till it got dark up here Warren. Shocking day !!!

Rohrerbot said...

These are some really nice close ups. Love the colors of the chiffchaff. You went from rain to colder weather....how do things survive without warmth and sun?:)

Alan Pavey said...

It must have been tricky out there yesterday, i'm going to try to venture out tomorrow morning all being well :-)

Marianne said...

Lovely sunny start to the day today but we're back to heavy rain now :( hope that the weather will ground a few migrants for you, Warren!

Jason K said...

Was rained out allday here too Warren!

ShySongbird said...

It absolutely threw it down here yesterday! Not so bad today but rain on the window as I write this. Lovely photos from your garden again. I think I shall have to get one of those portable hides, bit chilly in the Winter though and would give the neighbours a laugh :-)

Re. your mention of Mandarin Ducks on the last post, I have never, ever seen one in this area.

Warren Baker said...

Hi Songbird,
I reckon a hide for an Xmas present would be ideal for you, go for it, dont mind the neighbours!