A new day and a slightly altered cast of birds as the slow progression into Autumn continues. Overhead 20 plus House Martins and 9 Swallows were feeding and buzzing around the local nest sites.
In the hedges evidence of a bit of migration with 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 very brightly coloured Willow Warbler and a good count of 6 Spotted Flycatcher , the usual 5 family members in their usual haunts and another individual feeding from another hedgerow. A male Sparrowhawk  made a run over the hedges .
 A Cormorant flew upriver and 3 Buzzards including the vocal juvenile were soaring about. The first adult Pied Wagtail for some while paused briefly on overhead wires.
 The best of the rest were 7 Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker,2 Skylark.

Saturday morning

I was out by 7.30 am this morning to see what was passing through the patch as the slow march into Autumn continues.
The first bird heard was a Bullfinch calling , then a Greater Spotted  Woodpecker flew over so all in all good early signs.
Overhead there were 40 plus House Martin ,it was good to see adults feeding juveniles on the wing , only 8 Swallows though which was disappointing. The first Yellow Wagtail for awhile flew over calling as it headed south , this was soon followed by a Yellowhammer heading in the same direction, the second bird used to be a resident here but I have not seen any for quite awhile now, local farmers please take note.
A Grey Heron passed down the river valley ,there seems to be a few around at the moment .In the hedges were 3 Whitethroat ,female Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler , 2 Chiffchaff and a good count of 5 Spotted Flycatcher , the latter are still the local family and it is good to see that they have had a successful breeding season, especially as I seemed to have had a lot of fruitless hours looking for them this Summer.
The local Buzzards have produced 1 youngster and he is calling all the time in a vain attempt to get fed.
Around the fields were 9 Stock Dove, 2 Skylark, Green Woodpecker, Red Legged Partridge , female Kestrel, 5 plus Linnet over and the first juvenile Pied Wagtail in ages .
 I t is nice to report that the blog is now on the Tirley village website, so a big welcome to our local readers and remember if you see anything and want to report or are not sure of what it is ,just ask in the comments section. Also try to not be too tidy in the gardens and fields, leave a little room for our feathered friends.

Sunday 4th August

The Autumnal feel was more evident with a coolish breeze and rain setting in , the birds are beginning to look as if the summer is at and end and that they are preparing to start their long southwards trek.
 The first good count of House Martins were about today with 62 plus ,but just 5 Swallow s.
In the hedges were 4 Spotted Flycatcher , 3 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Linnet. A Raven passed west and there were 3 Buzzards about .
Another Cormarant passed upriver and 5 Stock Dove fed on the ripening Maize.
 The best of the rest were 3 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker.

Saturday 3rd August

A mid morning visit to the patch was never turn up anything startling , but with the faintest hint of Autumn in the air who knows !
Overhead 15 plus House Martin and 7 Swallow were around  , but they soon wished they were"nt when a fantastic Hobby powered in from the west .
 In the hedges there were just 3 Chiffchaff 7 Linnet and 2 Whitethroat. Around the fields were 3 Buzzard , female Kestrel the first flock of post breeding Woodpigeon and 2 Stock Dove .
A Cormarant flew upriver.

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.