Thursday 3 October 2013

There was some brief sunshine for my patch visit this morning, when I managed to add a few more bird species to the October list, the first of those was a KINGFISHER (50) that was seen on the main lake, a nice species to reach 50 with  :-) The adjacent Scrubby Woods was also good for a new October bird, When two BLACKCAPS (51) were seen feeding on the Elder berries there.
GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, BULLFINCH, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH and a flyover SISKIN were also noted around the Scrubby Woods and lake areas, where it was quite busy today. Walking over to Migrant Alley, via the Ashes lane Field, I looked up to see a BUZZARD fly low over and in the process saw 5 REDWING (52) go past, my first of the Autumn and the earliest I have recorded them here, albeit by just one day, the 12 year mean average arrival date for Redwing here is the 8th October.

Over at Migrant Alley it was once again a case of watching the SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS feeding over the sheep pasture and paddocks, many moved on after feeding up on the craneflies, but were soon replaced by a fresh batch of hungry migrants, many hundreds must have passed through here today. The SPARROWHAWK was again harassing the hirundines, plus the KESTREL was seen today, another or the same Buzzard went over the nearby Greenhouses.

SKYLARKS were passing over in ones and twos, as were MEADOW PIPITS, also a BLACK HEADED GULL and 7 HERRING GULLS were noted flying over. 2 CHIFFCHAFFS were in the Greenhouse grounds, where at the water intake I found 2 GREY WAGTAILS. Not a bad 3 hour visit today, I even managed a couple of photo's  :-)
Grey Wagtail, a scarce bird here
Grey Wagtail
WREN
MAGPIE


8 comments:

Lancs and Lakes Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

No redwings for me yet but first ones at nature reserve today - they're coming!!!!

A frog was croaking in pond this arvo when the rain started - it's October - it's a bit weird!

Cheers

DaveyMan

Alan Pavey said...

Nice pics Mate, my Grey Wags seem to be always flying around and don't want to sit for any length of time :-)

Warren Baker said...

Davyman, I suppose it is a bit warm for the time of year, the frogs must like it though :-)

Warren Baker said...

Alan,
The Greywags here are very wary, I had a hard time sneaking up to within 15 meters of them, I only took 3 photo's and they heard the shutter noise and flew off!

These birds have been here on and off all Autumn, but some years I get just 1 or 2 sightings of them for the whole year.

Phil said...

Nice pics Warren.
Redwings in your post gives it a real Autumnal feel.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Very nice Grey Wag shots .
Migrant alley certainly seems to have changed over the years

Warren Baker said...

Greenie,
Migrant Alley was once a busy stop off point for the common and even some scarce migrants, but it has been ''cleaned up'' and opened up to much more disturbance, mainly from the college :-(

Mike Gould said...

Nice photos Warren.