Good news with the removal of the herd of ASBO cows from one of the fields on the patch it was the first time this summer that I could take some time and actually check to see if the Spotted Flycatchers had bred in the same place as last few years , the good news is that within a few minutes I could see that they had returned as I was greeted with the sight of 3 Juvenile and one adult feeding from the usual dead tree in the hedgerow.
Signs of Autumn are now evident in the bird sighting with an influx of 11 plus Chiffchaff , Willow Warbler ,2 Blackcap , and 9 plus Whitethroat in the hedges.
Overhead there were 7 plus House Martin and 8 plus Swallow (local birds), and another Grey Heron passed over ,also 1 Pied Wagtail did likewise .
 Around the fields were 3 Buzzard, Red Legged Partridge and 2 Skylark and 7 Stock Dove ,a nice sighting was a flock of 15 plus House Sparrow feeding on maize.
 The best of the rest were 5 plus Linnet ,Green Woodpecker ,2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker , and 1 Brown Hare.

With a early start at work ,I managed an early finish so I was able to get round the patch just after 10am. It was quiet but there are a few signs of Summer turning to Autumn.
Overhead a small party of 7 Swift passed south and the first good count of the Autumn of Swallow were seen with 24 plus and a supporting cast of 10 plus House Martin were also seen. A Grey Heron also drifted east .
The only raptor today were 5 Buzzard including 3 together. In the hedges were 5 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and a skulking Garden Warbler . Linnets passed over in ones and twos and Goldfinches seem to be noticeable.
The best of the rest were 3 Stock Dove, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, a flock of 10 House Sparrow, 4 Skylark . The patch will start to hot up soon so will I pass the magic number of 91species ? lets hope.
 

Sunday dawned cooler with a humid feeling and today Autumn migration started with 110 plus Swift moving east . Due to holiday preperations the morning walk was short so I decided to cover the patch later on after the heat. It was quiet but it is good to report a good number of juvenile birds around .
The hedges were quiet with 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat,2 Blackcap, and the first small numbers of Linnet with 6 been seen.
Overhead were 19 plus Swallow 8 plus House Martin and 1 Swift which went south, also were 7 plus Stock Dove .
Raptors seen were a male Kestrel, a female Sparrowhawk seen carrying prey and 2 Buzzard.
The best of the rest were 6 Skylark ,Red Legged Partridge and 2 juvenile  Green Woodpecker. 

Sunday , out a bit later and in truth a tad quieter , although a couple of nice sighting were had. The first one being a superb Hobby that was seen mobbing a Buzzard (2 were seen),
In the hedges were 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Whitethroat.
Overhead were 12 plus Swallow, 5 plus House Martin, 4 Skylark, 1 Raven, also the insomniac Tawny Owl called a couple of times .
A male singing Yellow Wagtail was nice.
The best of the rest were 3 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker , Stock Dove, 1 Brown Hare, 1 Fox.
 The patch total is now 83                           

Back on the patch early as it forecast to be very hot today (Saturday), 5 Blackcap were still making themselves heard , and a good total of 4 Greater Spotted Woodpecker were about. My attention was drawn to a nice flock of 4 Raven that flew towards Tirley hill at 7.30am , signs that they have had a good breeding season.
Around the hedges were a great count of 13 plus Whitethroat , 5 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and the Willowchiff was calling today. Also heard a Bullfinch calling and a few Goldfinch and Linnet were letting themselves been known.
Overhead 15 plus House Martin were dotted about and 16 plus Swallow  were at breeding sites. An odd record was a Tawny Owl which called at 7.30am quite an odd 5time !
2 Green Woodpecker flew over together and a Curlew was heard calling from the direction of the river meadows.
Best of the rest were 4 Skylark, Buzzard.
Over the week the garden has been graced by the visits of at least 2 Spotted Flycatchers which have been catching prey within feet of us , fantastic !

Just a quick update, very hot and sunny and the best bird so far in the garden , a superb Spotted Flycatcher hunting in the garden ,so close you can hear its beak snap shut, total magic !

sunday 7/7/2013

What seemed like an age ago, I was finally back on the patch today. But first a couple of updates , the year is turning full circle with a flock of 15 Swallow on wires being the first sign of Autumn ! . On the patch itself a calling Little Owl was nice ,the first for quite awhile.
Sunday morning and I was out early , the local pair of Yellow Wagtails were in full swing with both birds seen carrying food.
 The hedges were busy with 6 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, a calling Willow Warbler, a whooping 10 Whitethroat , and best of all a singing Garden Warbler .
 Overhead 10 plus Swallow and 15 plus House Martin were nice and 3 Buzzards and a male Kestrel got the raptors on the board.
In the fields were 4 Skylark, Red Legged Partridge, and 11 Stock Dove , also a Brown Hare showed briefly.
A  Cormarant  flew downriver .
 The patch list now stands at 82