Wednesday 28 August 2013

I had to be out to meet a friend at 10:00hrs this morning, so spent from 06:15hrs until 09:30hrs out at the Greenhouses and of course Migrant Alley.

It was cool and overcast with the odd spit of rain on the light North wind, which moved the low lying mist across the fields. At first there was little to be found, but as the gloom began to lift, the birds began to show, GOLDFINCH started to flock and feed on the thistles at the Greenhouse Grounds, and were joined by a few GREENFINCH, the odd WREN, ROBIN and DUNNOCK flitted about the vegetation, and a KESTREL sat up on the greenhouse roof surveying all that went on.

I was on the lookout for summer migrants though, and the first to show were 2 CHIFFCHAFF, a few minutes later the 'tack' 'tack' of a BLACKCAP was heard, and a female bird was located, just a few seconds later the first of 2 WHITETHROATS showed up, then even better a LESSER WHITETHROAT popped up. I heard a GREY WAGTAIL fly over, and managed to locate it in the gloom, it was followed soon after by another one, and before the long the continued passage of the YELLOW WAGTAILS was observed, with at least 5 birds in the area, 3 of them alighting on the paddocks at Migrant Alley, the PIED WAGTAILS that sat up on the Greenhouse Roofs made it another ''three Wagtail species'' Day   :-)

Migrant Alley also had yet another WHINCHAT sat on one of the wooden fencelines, and a bit further along the same fence, two WHEATEAR were also sat, fantastic little trio  :-) Only the third Wheatear for August so far at Migrant Alley, but the 6th Whinchat, its normally the other way around  :-)

A short sky watch produced a flock of 32 HERRING GULLS, 2 BLACK HEADED GULLS, 2 GREY HERONS and the mass of GREYLAG and CANADA GEESE. My time to leave soon came though and I headed off home. Nothing new for the months list today, but some excellent birds found none the less  :-)  hopefully I'll add one or two more new species for the August list in the final few days, it stands at 71 presently, making it the fourth best August out of 12 thus far.

I was back out this afternoon though, when the clouds had parted and some warm sunshine was to be had, I had my camera this time and tracked down the Wheatear for some photo's, they allowed me to approach to within 6 meters, but the Whinchat didn't want to have its photo taken and didn't allow any sort of approach. I also tracked down the Lesser Whitethroat, it was in the same bare bush as yesterdays Reed Warbler, that had gone, but the 2 Chiffchaff were still there feeding. I sat for nearly an hour waiting for the Lesser Whitethroat to show, and although it did return to the bush, it was too brief for a photo, I needed a hide! I did get a bonus as I sat waiting though, when a HOBBY came over and chased the flock of SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS around the sheep pasture  :-)
Wheatear! Always an 'icing on the cake' bird at Pittswood
A highlight in the year is finding Wheatear on the fenlines at Migrant Alley
They mostly always it and pose nicely too   :-)
Wheatear eying a snack :-)
One of the Chiffchaff in the bush that the Lesser whitethroat was seen in
Pity the Lesser Whitethroat didn't pose like these did
Still got a few Reed Warbler photo's from yesterday,  they're much rarer than Wheatear here
Reed Warbler from yesterday
Reed Warbler

10 comments:

Marc Heath said...

It seems to be a bumper year for Wrynecks, check carefully along those paths.

Pjbird1973 said...

Superb reed warbler pics
I'm in Nice and trying very hard for Wryneck!

Warren Baker said...

I had Wryneck on my mind today Marc!

Warren Baker said...

PJ
Bring a few back for me :-)

Marianne said...

So it's Whinchat and Wheatear time already, and the nights are drawing in...! Gorgeous photos as usual, lovely to see the migrants. Hope that you find the coveted Wryneck to go with them. Sorry I missed your report about my local patch, and sorry the pesky Kingfishers didn't co-operate. I shall have words with them!

Warren Baker said...

Marianne,
I'll be expecting Kingfisher co-operation next time then :-)

Simian said...

most admiring of your photos once more Warren....lovely...really lovely...nice snaps of the Wheatear, one of my favourite birds to see any time....fabulous...
Graham

p.s. a friend of mine ringed Wryneck last week over at Seven Sisters...i wish i had been there....

Alan Pavey said...

You certainly have a lot going on there Warren, still waiting for Wheatear here :-(

Alan Pavey said...

You certainly have a lot going on there Warren, still waiting for Wheatear here :-(

Anonymous said...

A good few hours were had then, Warren.