Saturday 27 July 2013

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.

Wednesday 24 July 2013

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.
 

Monday 22 July 2013

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 14 July 2013

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                           

Saturday 13 July 2013

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 !

Monday 8 July 2013

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 July 2013

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