Monday 2 September 2013

After yesterdays marathon patch visit, this morning I took it a bit easy, with just a couple of hours had around the Greenhouse Grounds and Migrant Alley.

I arrived in sunny but cool conditions, and soon picked up the 2 WHITETHROATS in the Greenhouse Grounds, as well as a CHIFFCHAFF, but no other summer birds were there. I had a look over at the Greenhouse copse, passing one of the KESTRELS on the way that was sitting up on the Greenhouse Roof as usual  :-)  There was plenty of activity along the sunny side of the copse, with a couple of BLACKCAPS, another Whitethroat, and at least 4 more Chiffchaffs, I also thought I had views of a Redstart, but it was so brief I couldn't be sure, that would of been a year tick if it was one!

A circuit of the sheep pasture and paddcoks at Migrant Alley didn't produce any migrants, not even a Yellow Wagtail flew over, that may have been due to the SPARROWHAWK that was patrolling up above again. Six CANADA GEESE were on one of the paddocks, with just a dozen starlings and the usual crowd of ROOKS and JACKDAWS.

A short sky watch was worth the effort, as I saw a CORMORANT (55) go over, could of done with that yesterday, plus two BUZZARDS were up soaring. SWALLOWS were fewer today, only around 20-30 were feeding over the sheep pasture, joined by small numbers of HOUSE MARTINS. A scan of the Ashes Lane Field on the way home was had, where I saw the WHEATEAR again, but not the Whinchat.

I took some Butterfly and Dragonfly photo's as the sun warmed things up a bit  :-)
Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Common Darter
Common Darter
Common Darter
Small Copper
Common Blue, female
Common Blue, female
Common Blue, female
Speckled Wood

6 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Great set warren, love the detail on those Common Darter eyes.

Warren Baker said...

Hi Marc,
This might be the last week of decent weather, so got to get them while they are there :-)

Jason K said...

Great set of invert shots Warren!

Things have been pretty quite here in terms of migration this autumn with no Wheatears or Yellow wags through. That said I had 3 Whinchat one day last week so it's not all doom and gloom

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Jase,
Ive had more than my fair share of Whinchat here too :-)

Anonymous said...

Cracking macro work, Warren.

Warren Baker said...

Cheers Dean,
It was hot and sweaty!!