Saturday 13 October 2012

Overnight rain left this morning wet, misty, and cool, a bank of dark clouds blotted out any sun, making it seem like an eternity before the morning lightened up. In these conditions it wasn't surprising that for the first hour of the full patch walk not many birds were about, and the species that were to be found were only seen in ones and two's.

One of the KESTRELS was up early at the Greenhouse Grounds though, and flyovers from, SISKIN, LESSER REDPOLL and YELLOWHAMMER were seen as I crossed Migrant Alley to get to the College Grounds, here it was not much better birdswise, but the likes of MISTLETHRUSH, NUTHATCH, GOLDCREST, JAY, and SONGTHRUSH were eventually found.

I made my way back out across Migrant Alley, through the Pub Field and Tree Nursery, then on to the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, only adding a few flyover HERRING GULLS, two flyover BLACK HEADED GULLS and a PHEASANT to the mornings list as I went.

Things picked up marginally at the lakes and Scrubby Woods, I found a CHIFFCHAFF by the main lake, but little was on the water, just 2 MALLARD, 3 CANADA GEESE and a scattering of MOORHENS, with a KINGFISHER putting in an appearance. A flock of ten Lesser Redpoll flew over the Scubby Woods, as well as a few more Siskin. BULLFINCH, TREECREEPER, COAL TIT, GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, GOLDFINCH, GREENFINCH, and a BUZZARD that flew from its roost tree made the list up to 39, the fortieth species was REDWING, four were seen flying out of a Hawthorn bush.

Moving on through  the Wet Woods, and the Small Holding, I added GREEN WOODPECKER, and at last a GREAT TIT, which was with a flock of LONG TAILED TITS, 42 species would be a little less than average for an October morning, but I wasn't happy with that, so I went over to the Greenhouse Grounds for another look around there, and what a difference from when I passed through in the darkness three hours earlier, the scrub was teeming with BLUE and Great Tits, WRENS, DUNNOCKS, ROBINS, BLACKBIRDS, Songthrushes, another Chiffchaff, and a female BLACKCAP.  A LITLE OWL called from the Greenhouse copse, while overhead flyovers from GREY HERON, 2 HOUSE MARTIN, 2 SKYLARK and 4 MEADOW PIPIT made up the daylist to 49. As I was deciding to head off home, the months first GREY WAGTAIL (65) flew past, calling like mad, the reason for its manic alarm call was a SPARROWHAWK that came through and sat on the Greenhouses, so the morning ended on 51 species, an excellent haul for such a dark and damp morning.

My camera stayed at home due to the poor conditions, but by midday a window of sunshine was beginning to appear, so I took the opportunity to sit and wait for the Jays to arrive at the garden feeders, here's the resulting photo's of them, plus a Buzzard that flew over my house  :-)
Jay
Jay
Jay
Jay
Common Buzzard

11 comments:

Lancs and Lakes Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

The second jay down looks 'interestingly' stuffed ;-)

You must be due a YBW soon there seems to be a few making their way down the country.

Cheers

Davo

Marcus Lawson said...

Cracking Jay shots mate, certainly are loads around at the moment. Should be plenty of new oak trees next spring!

Marc Heath said...

Nice Jay shots Warren, now stop cheating with them and photograph them out in the wild, rather than with a cup of tea in your hand!

Alan Pavey said...

The month list is coming along nicely and more Jays!! :-) Great stuff.

Warren Baker said...

If Only one would turn up here Davo!

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
I do my best, but they just dont co-operate out in the woods :-)

Warren Baker said...

Marcus,
I dont know about oak Trees, the jays from my garden have stashes a kilo of Peanuts out in the woods and fields somewhere!

ShySongbird said...

Lovely Jay photos Warren. I read somewhere that there has been a big influx from the continent because of a poor acorn crop there this year.

Lovely photos on yesterday's post too including my very favourite butterfly....I actually thought I had commented yesterday but maybe didn't hit the publish button.

Warren Baker said...

Hi Songbird,
The Jays certainly are everywhere this Autumn, there are 3 visiting my garden, and everytime i look over the fields there is a jay flying across.

Anonymous said...

Brill set of shots Warren.

Millhouse Photography said...

The Jay has to be one of my absolute favourites, Warren. Lovely photos.

Thank you very much for your time in advising me re. processing; very helpful.