I visited the Lakes and Scrubby Woods this afternoon, and was lucky enough to cross paths with a feeding flock of birds, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't of seen much at all! The flock was, as is normally the case, mostly LONG TAILED TITS, about a dozen in all, they were joined by a few BLUE and GREAT TITS, 2 COAL TITS, and a TREECREEPER, also, WREN, ROBIN and DUNNOCK were loosely associating with them, as was a lone SISKIN, but two BULLFINCH were certainly keeping themselves to themselves. The lakes had nothing of interest, just a pair of CANADA GEESE and a few MOORHENS.

I had time left to visit the Tree Nursery, where at least 5 MEADOW PIPITS flew up, a SPARROWHAWK went over and a KESTREL hunted along the hedgerow. I checked the old shack, as I always do, in the hope of finding a Barn owl, or some Owl pellets on the floor at least, but no sign of one, there was however a LITTLE OWL there,  it flew out and into a nearby tree, but I didn't have my camera on me today.

Half an hour on my sky watching seat over at Migrant Alley was of some interest, I watched a trickle of HOUSE MARTINS and SWALLOWS head south, these are later than the last seen in 2011, when the Swallows were last noted on the 9th, and the House Martins on the 12th, the latest record for these species is 22nd Oct for House Martin and 20thOct for Swallow. I also watched 5 SKYLARK head NW and heard a Lesser Redpoll go over plus a couple more SISKIN.
Talking of Siskin, here's the photo's from yesterday.

Siskin (Male)

Siskin

Siskin

Another view of the suns rays breaking through the canopy over at the Scrubby Woods

Before the sun arrived though, it was foggy and frosty, making it particularly quiet out on my patch early on, the first hour only gave me 24 species, the best of which were the KESTREL at the Greenhouse Grounds, where a few REDWING were feeding on the Hawthorn bushes and a flyover MEADOW PIPIT that was invisible in the fog!

After visiting the College Grounds and Migrant Alley, I went back to the Greenhouse Grounds, the sun had now broken through, and the bird activity had increased. In the scrub and hedgerow there were at least two dozen BLACKBIRDS, as well as 4 SONGTHRUSH, 4 Redwing, 2 SISKIN, 2 LESSER REDPOLL, a CHIFFCHAFF and a female BLACKCAP. WRENS, ROBINS, DUNNOCKS, GOLDFINCH, BLUE and GREAT TITS also gathered in good numbers to feed here. Whilst photographing the Siskins, a PEREGINE flew over at speed and headed SE, and flyovers from SKYLARK, BLACK HEADED GULL, HERRING GULL, and MISTLE THRUSH were also had.

Goldfinch On Alder

Siskin On Alder  ( i'll post the other Siskin shots tomorrow)

It was 10:00hrs before I reached the Lakes and Scrubby Woods, having not seen much at the Small Holding and Wet woods, only GREEN WOODPECKERS and a couple of COAL TITS. The lakes were home to just a few MOORHEN today, not even a Mallard was there. The surrounding vegetation and the Scrubby Woods were given a good look through, mainly to try and relocate the Marsh Tit, which wasn't found, it was probably off with the Long tailed Tits, which weren't about either  :-)  Only a NUTHATCH and four BULLFINCH were of much interest here today, so I made my way back over to my seat at Migrant Alley for a Sky watching session, on the way photographing a proper ''wild'' jay as it flew past, as opposed to the ones that visit my garden   :-)

One for Marc,  :-)  - proper Jay, not the best shot, I hope to get another chance this autumn.

Once at my seat,a passage of SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS was observed, seen high up as I was watching the 8 BUZZARDS that were all up soaring, what a sight! A SPARROWHAWK was also up hunting, a few Siskin, Skylark, Lesser Redpoll, and CHAFFINCH'S all moved through as well, a group of 7 GREY HERON moving west was quite an unreal sighting, the most ive seen here at one time! Later this afternoon I had another hour or so out at my seat, but most it was mostly a quiet time, adding just STOCK DOVE and LINNET to the day list, which ended on 49 species today. I did however manged to photograph another ''proper'' wild Jay ( take note Marc :-)  ) whilst it flew past with an acorn in its bill  :-) Again not the best, it was a little too distant really, but getting better!

Flyover Jay

Flyover Jay

Flyover Jay