Autumn

Cold and pouring rain was the order of the day, so the birding was equally as dissapointing . Any one who knows the area will tell you that most of the fields are bounded by ditches , these now all have water in them for the first time in months so the drought is coming to an end or at least it feels like it anyway. It was a contrast to yesterday but although it was hard work a few birds seem to be moving , but overall it really is dissapointing.A influx of BLACKCAP was evident with 7 being present. 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, a male REDSTART was singing. Only 3 SKYLARK braved the conditions, a male YELLOWHAMMER was singing ,and 6 Linnet were about. A good number of 9 STOCK DOVE appear to be breeding around here, and the GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER was at the usual place. 1 BUZZARD flew over being chased by a local CROW.Just 2 SWALLOW were seen and 1 MEADOW PIPIT was flushed from the long grass. A flock of 15 GOLDFINCH were perhaps migrant birds on the move. On the another front a BROWN HARE was a nice suprise.

Whisper It

Yes , just maybe we had a bit of migration today, after work I managed a curtailed 90 minute walk around the patch and managed to find a few birds on the move , so who knows what I missed this morning and I had to curtail my walk due to the Friday school run. A t least 7 SWALLOW over north along with a single SAND MARTIN likewise. 3 BUZZARD and 7 STOCK DOVE were around the place. The pair of GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were near to their presumed nesting area. In the hedgerows today were 4 BLACKCAP, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 WILLOW WARBLER, which is still a poor showing.At least6 SKYLARK were over the fields today. The highlight this afternoon was the return of our " local " male YELLOW WAGTAIL singing from the same wire as last year , now I was quite chuffed with this, but this was then eclisped by the discovery of a further 3 but quite possibly 4 other YELLOW WAGTAILS ( all males) in the top fields . They were part of a flock of migrant WAGTAILS which included 5 WHITE WAGTAILS, 15 plus PIED WAGTAILS along with WAGTAILS were at least 3 MEADOW PIPITS. So a much better showing so lets be ready for a big showing tommorrow.

Drought

Since the annoucement of the above it has poured down, this has turned Tirley Sandpits into a avian desert, many birds absent or in very low numbers. So dodging the rain a walk round the patch produced much of the same birds as previous days. On the log today were 3 BLACKCAP, 3 SKYLARK 8 BUZZARD, 36 LESSER BLCK BACKED GULLS in ploughed fields. 4 SWALLOW OVER and 6 STOCK DOVE around varios nesting areas. 7 LINNET is in a increase on last years total, a rather soggy male KESTREL on wires. Just 5 PIED WAGTAIL today in the top fields, a YELLOWHAMMER in the usual spot, other migrants were thin on the ground with 1 WILLOW WARBLER, 2 CHIFFCHAFF,and a male REDSTART in the hedgerows. At least the RAF put on a show with a Hercules , Sea King and a Merlin anti submarine helecopter over low. Anyhow lets be more hopeful that things will get better over the next week.

Slow Day

As the above says , it was a slow day on the patch, in fact to be honest its been a slow spring with some very noticable absentees or if not absent only present in low numbers. I saw that on the Portland website Whitethroats appear very scarce , the same could be said of our local House Martins. On the log today were 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 BLACKCAP, 4 LINNET,just 1 WHEATEAR in the sheep fields, 5 BUZZARDS, 4 Skylark, the GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER at it"s nest tree. Fantastic views of a male CUCKOO on telephone wires , I have yet to hear him call yet.6 Swallow over, a male Sparrowhawk soaring overhead.In the top fields 3 PIED WAGTAILS were kept company by a rather smart WHITE WAGTAIL. Lets hope that the late arrivals are just that and not a sign of a greater problem.

Comings and Goings

Ok ,so the plan was up early and out to see if today could be as productive as yesterday , I did"nt quite manage to get out as early as I wanted and the walk was delayed by the arrival of Buster the dog who is a complete pain in the arse . The owner is a lovely person but has no control over the dog. So when Willow and myself got going it was evident that there had been some departures and arrivals overnight. 5 BLACKCAP, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 WILLOW WARBLER, male REDSTART,COMMON WHITETHROAT made the log this morning and the back up cast of male Yellowhammer,at least 4 singing LINNET, 4 singing SKYLARK , GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, 3 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE, 3 STOCK DOVE, were nice additions. There were still 4 PIED WAGTAILS in the top fields along with 2 male WHEATEAR ,its been a good spring for these so far.There were at least 8 BUZZARDS around along with just 2 SWALLOW over north. But a big suprise was a displaying LAPWING over the top fields, it flew off towards Ashleworth after 10 minutes so who knows , I doubt that they would breed here but who knows ? ,. The final bird of the walk was a stunning YELLOW WAGTAIL low over a field , it dropped into the long grass , I think they bred last year so lets hope they do so again this year. There is still a lack of Whitethroats , so if they are coming it had better be soon as I am getting a little concerned .

After The Rain

Well since the drought was annouced it has just poured down! today was a mixture of heavy rain and hail ,so when I went out it was with not much hope of seeing anything at all but it turned out to be bloody fantastic. As soon as the rain etc had passed over it turned out to a fantastic evening and it was evident that migrants had somehow made it through. 8 SWALLOW north, in the hedgerows 3 CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, a male REDSTART in brief song. A nice suprise was a male CUCKOO being harrased by the local CROWS. In the top fields were 8 male WHEATEAR ,a patch record, fantastic ! Around the margins were 2 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE,BUZZARD, female KESTREL, male SPARROWHAWK, 4 STOCK DOVE,3 SKYLARK, and 6 LINNET .Wagtails continue to pass through with 9 PIED WAGTAILS in the top fields. The highlight for me was the sighting of the first HOUSE MARTIN over the village.I am full of optimism for tommorrow so up early am to see whats about .See you tommorrow.

Highs and Lows

The weather here is typical April , showers, windy and generally unsettled, as predicted this has stalled migration to a lesser or greater degree, with Whitethroat and House Martin still absent in the local vicinity( although I have seen both nearby,but not on the patch). However a circuit of the area still produced a few birds, the stars being 4 stonking male WHEATEARS , in the top fields. We still have 2 singing WILLOW WARBLERS , 3 singing CHIFFCHAFF, 3 singing BLACKCAP, 3 singing SKYLARK.5 STOCK DOVE, a male YELLOWHAMMER, 6 LINNET over, a flock of 8 PIED WAGTAIL. In the blustery conditions just 2 BUZZARD today, a RAVEN low over the fields, a male GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER near to a likely nesting hole. The numbers were provided by 130 plus LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS on the sheep fields. Lets hope I can bring some better news in the next few days ,the weather is supposed to calm down by Sunday .