Saturday 4 October 2014

Autumn Blast

So with a great gush Autumn arrived overnight ,the first spit of rain fell as Willow and I left the cottage, it certainly felt very different to the roasting September we have enjoyed .
The last week has stood out for the good passage of Meadow Pipits that have passed through with flocks over a 100 plus through out the week. I also managed to find Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in the bushes and both Tawny and Little Owls have been vocal .
 So Saturdays walk as I say was a very wet affair with constant rain in the 2 and half hours Willow and I were out .
In the bushes Robins were still very prevalent with 19 plus been seen  , some must be continental in origin .I also managed to find 10 plus Chiffchaff and I have no doubt that there were more around lurking in the under growth .
A nice female Blackcap feeding on black berries was a nice bonus ,and a Bullfinch was heard but not seen .
On the pastures the rain had brought down the passing Meadow Pipits  and over 200 plus were on pastures and the stubble fields . The wagtail passage has finally got going with 10 plus Pied Wagtail  feeding on the stubble in the top fields. A small flock of 20 plus Linnet were also feeding on the stubble. Skylarks were feeding on pastures and the wintering flock is beginning to build with 22 plus seen today.
A rather soggy Red Legged Partridge ran across a wet field, and just 4 Stock Dove were feeding on the stubble with around 50 plus Wood pigeon. .
 Overhead 2 Mistle Thrush passed south and around 60 plus Starling were on the over head wires . Song thrushes and Blackbirds seem to be dropping in in ones and two s , I presume they were migrants but as yet no sign of Redwings or Fieldfares although I understand a few have been seen around fairly locally.
A Green Woodpecker was seen feeding near the magic hedge (which is not so magic at the moment ).
So with a northerly airflow from tomorrow Willow and I will be out looking for the first winter Thrushes in the morning ,wish us luck !
Oh I forgot a Jay flew over the garden as we arrived back at the cottage , just as I was thinking they had moved on.