The start of the Autumn migration appears to be starting on the patch with the first few birds on the move been see. Over the last week in the village a Spotted Flycatcher was seen and a Lesser Whitethroat along with Blackcaps were seen feeding on the first elder berries. The hedges were full of the sounds of contact calls of warblers , Chiffchaff and maybe the odd Willow Warbler.
So it was early Saturday that Willow and I ventured onto the patch, clear blue skies ,bright sun and not too hot as we were early enough to be the heat.
The very first obvious birds seen were Kestrels with 4 been seen ,the newly mown fields are to their liking ,easier hunting I am guessing. Helping to carry the raptor flag were at least 4 Buzzards ,the juveniles calling to be fed but mum and dad ignoring them forcing them too hunt for themselves .
In the hedges it appears that some birds are filtering through the patch with 12 plus Chiffchaff (could not find any Willow Warblers), , 4 Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat and its close relative a Common Whitethroat were all seen .
The Autumns first flock of Linnets were seen with a flock of 9 which paused briefly, the end total was 15 plus .
There were a few Swallows which seem to be moving south west with a flock of 6 flying high over ,the final count was 21 plus ,a few local birds but a trickle of birds passing over. Just 5 House Martins today , I just could not seem to find any today.
A Raven was heard as was a Green Woodpecker ,speaking of Woodpeckers ,2 Greater Spotted were about today.
On the meadows there were still 6 plus Skylarks ,they seem to have bred on the patch this year and whats more have been successful . .6 Stock Dove were in the usual places and a Yellow Wagtail called from the fodder beet field were they have been for awhile .
A local Pied Wagtail sat atop a farm barn and a couple of Brown Hares were sat in the meadows .
As we made our way back to the cottage the gentle call of a Bullfinch alerted us to its present , a great way to finish the walk .
So although it feels like high summer, for the birds Autumn has already started and the start of the great journeys they undertake have started . The best time of the year has started so in the words of a famous Robbie Williams song "come grab your binoculars and come follow me "
