With a day off work and a clear blue sky a bonus trip onto the patch was in order .A distinct nip in the air this morning the mercury was 4 degrees c according to the car this morning on the school run. I was on the patch by 9.30 and has been the case Swallows were moving over again in good numbers including one flock of 150 plus that paused for a short while on the telephone wires over the pastures. They soon moved on and over the entire two and half hours I logged 235 plus over but in all honesty I think this was a huge under estimation on my part, this Autumn really has been exceptional for my little patch for this species this year.
Both species of Martins were seen today with 20 plus House Martins including juveniles still been fed by adults as they rested on the overhead wires and a single Sand Martin was in amongst the throng .
The other big player today was Meadow Pipits with 107 plus seen in three different flocks ,birds were also heard passing overhead .It is nice to report that the start of the Skylark Passage has started today with 10 birds passing south and west. Likewise a Pied Wagtail ,this bird did look maybe like a White but I am not sure so it remains a Pied.
The raptor count today was good with 12 plus Buzzard including 7 together ,try as I might I could not turn one into a Honey Buzzard , but some birds must be on passage as this is well over the normal count for the patch. A female Kestrel cruised over looking fine in the bright sunlight.
The Raven were about again with 2 been seen including one which was soaring with a pair of Buzzards.
The hedges and bushes were a little more exciting today with 6 Chiffchaff including 3 singers, a very grey looking Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat ,all three species having not been seen for a few days ,so it just shows that birds are still filtering through the patch.
For my Bullfinch fan 2 were seen today in their usual hang out ,they disappeared and headed north.
The influx of Robins continues with 13 plus seen this morning, I have never really looked at Robins in the same way since seeing them arrive at Spurn Point one October morning ,the point was alive with them and its odd to think that so many arrive for the winter with us or pass through on the way to their winter quarters .
The number of Jays seem to be increasing all the time with 6 been seen today including 3 that headed due west without stopping. A Mistle Thrush was sitting briefly on the overhead wires ,I wonder if its 'our " wintering bird or just a passage migrant ? .
The best of the rest were 8 Stock Dove ,Green Woodpecker ,2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, and a southward bound flock of 9 Goldfinch.
I have to finish on a poor note however and report that the usual flaying of the hedges has now started , with some hedges now standing no more than 3 feet in height , quite why this done is beyond me and it destroys habitat for so much wildlife , you sometimes despair you really do .
On a more positive note the Maize has started to be harvested and that will hopefully bring in more birds such as Larks, Pipits , Wagtails and some nice Finch flocks.
Lets see what turns up !
