Friday 9 August 2013

The forecast was for rain this morning, so I was pleased to see it was still dry when I left for my patch visit at 06:15, however the clouds soon gathered and rain fell before I had been out an hour.

The first bird on my list, as I left the house, was a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, it flew low over, not often that gets on the list first! BULLFINCH wasn't too far down that list, when a lovely male bird was seen perched on the telephone wires along Ashes lane.

I entered the Greenhouse Grounds, seeing one young KESTREL on the rooftop, before making my way to the scrubby area, there, I was amazed to see, in one small bush, LINNET, GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, BLACKCAP, WHITETHROAT, CHIFFCHAFF, GREAT TIT and BLUE TIT, nearby were BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, WREN, DUNNOCK, ROBIN, PIED WAGTAIL and a JAY, quite a gathering!

I headed out onto the fields and paddocks at Migrant Alley, when the rain came in, I was caught out in the open and got well wet as I tried to rush back to the Greenhouse Grounds for cover  :-(  Once the rain eased I headed of home for a change of clothes!

The rain stopped soon enough and I headed back out, walking over to the Scrubby Woods and Lake area. I arrived around 09:00hrs and found little of note, but thought I might just get to add Long tailed Tit or Mistle Thrush to the months list, but failed to do so. I noted TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST, a few more Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs plusa singing COAL TIT, a scan of the berry bearing shrub that had the Garden Warbler in recently, didn't produce it today!

By 10:30hrs I was back at Migrant Alley, and did the circuit of the fields and paddocks that got interrupted earlier, by now the sun was breaking through, but I was seeing very little. I got to my seat and sat down, a bit disappointed at not finding any passage migrants, however, someone up there felt sorry for me, because as I scanned down the hedgerow that borders the Greenhouse Grounds I watched a very rufus tailed bird get chased into the Scrubby area, I went straight down to locate it, but before I could, a WHINCHAT (101, 62) popped up onto a fence post right in front of me! Fantastic! Only short views were enjoyed before it flew off into the Greenhouse Grounds, Migrant Alley didn't let me down after all  :-)

There was still the Rufus tailed mystery bird to locate though, and I made my way to where I saw it dive into the undergrowth, as I reached the place, it flew out and alighted in the same tree that all the birds were seen this morning, I got my bins on it and saw a glorious NIGHTINGALE (102,63) ! Wow! This is the first Autumn Nightingale I have recorded on my patch, and the first one to visit my patch since spring 2011. Again I had just brief views of it before it flew off into cover at the Greenhouse Grounds.

As it had brightened up, I rushed off home for my camera, but when I arrived back at the Greenhouse Grounds and the border hedgerow, the Whinchat and Nightingale were of course nowhere to be seen  :-(  I walked the paddocks and fields again, and checked the hedges but I didn't see either of the birds again.

The only bird photo I got was of this ROOK !
ROOK - a consolation!
I also saw this Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, but having my 500mm lens on made for a very poor photo. I dont know why I tried really  :-)
Migrant Hawker, Immature Male
Migrant Hawker, Immature Male
Later this afternoon, the sun came out proper, and I was tempted back out, I was of course hoping to see the star birds again, but I didn't  :-) Maybe just as well, as i had changed lenses. I headed over to the Wooded Headland where I had taken the poor Migrant hawker photo's earlier, but didn't see the beastie, I did however get more Common Darter photo's  :-)
Common Darter
Common Darter
Common Darter


12 comments:

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Well done with the Nightingale and Whinchat , a great pair to find .
But your Migrant Hawker is an immature male , the female is brown with yellow markings .

Warren Baker said...

Blimey Greenie, I though I had that hawker sorted!

Stephen Mills said...

Great to see you got Whinchat and Nightingale, not had either here.

Phil said...

Well done with Nightingale and Whinchat Warren, two good species to get.
Flipping dragons drive you mad don't they!

Marc Heath said...

2 corkers there today Warren , nice one and some very nice Dragonfly shots.

Warren Baker said...

Cheers Steve,
Keep an eye out, you could have either turn up this Autumn :-)

Warren Baker said...

Phil,
just when you think you know what your looking at, you get proved wrong! :-)

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Marc,
Hopefully Wheatear will show up too :-)

Alan Pavey said...

It was quieter here this morning, well done with 2 new birds today unusual this time of year :-)

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Not a bad day in the field there Warren

Cheers

DaveyMan

Pete Woodruff said...

Headed of home for a change of clothes, then headed back out.

Sounds like you Warren, its called determination/dedication.

The Hairy Birder said...

A Nightingale would be a mega up here Warren; very envious!

Cheers,

Seumus