This morning it was an early start for Willow and I as we had a visiting birder from London with us this morning. I was hoping for one of those special patch days but in the event we managed to turn up a few nice birds but not the excitement I was hoping that migration may have produced.
After a very quiet start along the magic hedgerow a Blue Flash whizzed by and a very unexpected bird flashed by in the form of a Kingfisher ! what an earth it was doing so far from the river who knows but it is the 84th species this year for the patch ,a good start for the walk .
The magic hedgerow seems to have its peak for the year and was pretty quiet. We managed to find 3 Whitethroat, 1 very shy Lesser Whitethroat, a brief Redstart (which was a target bird for Dave ), and a great count of at least 21 plus Chiffchaff . Birds were spread out over the patch and not concentrated in the usual haunts.
Overhead after a slow start Swallows passed south to south west with 66 plus over and House Martins passed quickly south with one flock of 45 plus ,then another of 30 plus passed south west over the cottage as Willow and I were drinking a well deserved brew after such an early start ,so the final count was 79 plus.
A flock of 12 pus Goldfinch went over ,a far cry from the other day .There are now plenty of Autumnal signs that are appearing thick and fast and nothing more welcome as the first two small flocks of Meadow Pipits with 3 south west and a further 5 on pasture . A flock of 20 plus Skylarks arrived at 9.30ish . The raucous call of a Jay alerted us to its presence.
Raptors got into the act with 2 Buzzard and a male Sparrow hawk and 3 Raven gronked their way around the patch .
Woodpeckers were plentiful with at least 6 Greater Spotted and 2 Green bouncing over and around the patch this morning.
As we neared the cottage a Little Owl called three times and a Bullfinch was heard from a hedge .
So I hope my visitor from the big smoke enjoyed rural Gloucestershire and although not at its vintage best the patch put on a good show. My thanks to Dave for his help in spotting and hearing what was passing
The patch list moves to 84 !
Saturday, 6 September 2014
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
Warm Wednesday
Yes another update, it was a warm humid cloudy afternoon after work , and with an slightly easterly breeze it would of been rude not to venture out .
It appeared that it was a good deal quieter than it has been but there were a good spread of species over the part of the patch that I covered .
Overhead House Martins numbered 10 plus in the early afternoon and 12 plus later on ,it was the same as Swallows with just 8 over early in the afternoon and then at 5.30pm a large number appeared with over 200 plus feeding over fields near the village ,some resting on the over head wires.
In the hedges although quieter there were still 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart .
As I wandered along the lanes it was great to come across 3 fine Wheatears on the fence posts beside the pastures .
In the same area 2 Whitethroats appeared on a barbed wire fence ,so at one point 3 Wheatears and the 2 Whitethroats were all the same piece of fence .
Overhead a party of 3 Raven passed south west flying low over calling. Also seen were a Green Woodpecker, a passing Grey Heron and 2 Stock Doves.
With easterlies all week it could be a good week .
It appeared that it was a good deal quieter than it has been but there were a good spread of species over the part of the patch that I covered .
Overhead House Martins numbered 10 plus in the early afternoon and 12 plus later on ,it was the same as Swallows with just 8 over early in the afternoon and then at 5.30pm a large number appeared with over 200 plus feeding over fields near the village ,some resting on the over head wires.
In the hedges although quieter there were still 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart .
As I wandered along the lanes it was great to come across 3 fine Wheatears on the fence posts beside the pastures .
In the same area 2 Whitethroats appeared on a barbed wire fence ,so at one point 3 Wheatears and the 2 Whitethroats were all the same piece of fence .
Overhead a party of 3 Raven passed south west flying low over calling. Also seen were a Green Woodpecker, a passing Grey Heron and 2 Stock Doves.
With easterlies all week it could be a good week .
Monday, 1 September 2014
Get yer self a Hobby youngman !
Whats this a mid week update ? , well just a quick one really as the 83rd species of the year graced the skies above the patch in the form of a long overdue Hobby which was feeding on Dragon flies . I had only been saying to another birder today that I had not seen one on the patch this year and bazinger ! one appears as if to order.
In the short mid work break the magic hedge held 2 Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler , 3 plus Chiffchaff . 2 Green Woodpeckers and a Raven passed over /by. So the great Autumn carry s on and with Easterlies all this week the big one is on its way !
In the short mid work break the magic hedge held 2 Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler , 3 plus Chiffchaff . 2 Green Woodpeckers and a Raven passed over /by. So the great Autumn carry s on and with Easterlies all this week the big one is on its way !
Sunday, 31 August 2014
Creepy !
An early alarm call from Willow meant we were out on the patch by 6.45am.Clear blue skies with a slight north wind made me think that maybe birds would of moved on and in the event it seemed quieter but in the end , it was obvious some birds had moved on and had been replaced by another wave of migrants.
The magic hedge was still producing birds but migrants were more evenly spread around the patch. The magic one did however produce the 82 end species for the patch for the year and it was an unexpected one at that, it came in the form of a Treecreeper , a rare bird on the patch so really good to see .
We appeared to have had a small fall of Chiffchaff with 11 plus seen today and more heard in the surrounding hedges , along with them came 2 Willow Warblers but there were more no doubt lurking in the bushes.
Other migrants seen on the patch were 2 plus Redstart (its been really good Autumn for these birds, after a very slow spring ), 4 Blackcap, Whitethroat , and again a good count of 4 Lesser Whitethroat , this species has been passing through in good numbers this Autumn . I still managed to find 4 plus Spotted Flycatchers in two different localities , no doubt some being the local breeding birds and others passing migrants.
Overhead there were many more less passing migrants with just 28 plus Swallows trickling south wards and 45 plus House Martins , most were over Town Street Farm and gave the impression of being local breeding birds , gone were the Swallows from yesterday ,but it shows the passage of migrants heading southwards .
The best bird overhead was a passing Yellow Wagtail which called as it passed south east .A flock of 25 Goldfinch passed over heading towards a large thistle bank near the Church.
Walking across the pastures produced a single Skylark and a single Stock Dove.
On the raptor front the usual 3 species which appear to be in residence at the moment showed with 3 Buzzard, male Kestrel and a Sparrow Hawk .
A Green woodpecker and 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker made themselves known.
So the species tally for the patch advances to 82 for the year and so far the Autumn has been good , I get the feeling we may be due for something really good to turn up ,if we can just get a nice easterly breeze ,well heres hoping
The magic hedge was still producing birds but migrants were more evenly spread around the patch. The magic one did however produce the 82 end species for the patch for the year and it was an unexpected one at that, it came in the form of a Treecreeper , a rare bird on the patch so really good to see .
We appeared to have had a small fall of Chiffchaff with 11 plus seen today and more heard in the surrounding hedges , along with them came 2 Willow Warblers but there were more no doubt lurking in the bushes.
Other migrants seen on the patch were 2 plus Redstart (its been really good Autumn for these birds, after a very slow spring ), 4 Blackcap, Whitethroat , and again a good count of 4 Lesser Whitethroat , this species has been passing through in good numbers this Autumn . I still managed to find 4 plus Spotted Flycatchers in two different localities , no doubt some being the local breeding birds and others passing migrants.
Overhead there were many more less passing migrants with just 28 plus Swallows trickling south wards and 45 plus House Martins , most were over Town Street Farm and gave the impression of being local breeding birds , gone were the Swallows from yesterday ,but it shows the passage of migrants heading southwards .
The best bird overhead was a passing Yellow Wagtail which called as it passed south east .A flock of 25 Goldfinch passed over heading towards a large thistle bank near the Church.
Walking across the pastures produced a single Skylark and a single Stock Dove.
On the raptor front the usual 3 species which appear to be in residence at the moment showed with 3 Buzzard, male Kestrel and a Sparrow Hawk .
A Green woodpecker and 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker made themselves known.
So the species tally for the patch advances to 82 for the year and so far the Autumn has been good , I get the feeling we may be due for something really good to turn up ,if we can just get a nice easterly breeze ,well heres hoping
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Migants on the move.
No that is not a reference to people hopping on trucks in Calais but to the avian visitors that are moving through the patch right now. The last week has been a good one and work has got in the way, however I have managed fleeting visits to the patch and the Magic Hedgerow has been in form with multiple sightings of Redstart (up to 5), Spotted Flycatchers(up to 5), Multiple Lesser Whitethroats, Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps etc. Swallows and House Martins have also passed over in fair numbers for here abouts and we had a party of 4 Raven over as well.
So Saturday dawned and Willow and I were out and up at em as they say, having seen a Sparrow Hawk on the hedge next to the bedroom with a Blackbird kill I was fairly confident that it was going to be a good morning. In the end it was perhaps a little disappointing perhaps but maybe I have just been spoilt this week.
Walking along the hedges the birds were moved spaced out over the whole patch today but I managed to find 7 plus Chiffchaff, a good total of 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Redstart, and 3 Spotted Flycatchers.
The usual Woodpeckers were about with 1 Green and at least 2 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers seen.
Overhead at least 120 plus Swallows passed over or were feeding over the patch ,they were kept company with just 15 plus House Martin today .The major surprise was the number of Goldfinches with at least 125 plus this morning ,including a large flock of at least 80 plus , these birds will pass through in good numbers for the next few weeks if we are lucky. A nice surprise was the sound of at least 130 plus feral Greylag Geese as passed over ,plastic I know but still nice to see.
Raptors got in the act with a male Kestrel ,2 Buzzard and another Sparrow Hawk this one getting mobbed by a large number of Swallows.
On the field margins there were 7 Stock Dove, and in one hedge a nice sight of a flock of 30 plus Long Tailed Tits . Another bonus was the sight of a flock of 30 plus House Sparrows feeding on stubble, a much rarer sight than it should be nowadays. The walk was brought down a bit with the unpleasant sighting of 2 gun toting guys who were about to start shooting crows etc very very sad .
Any way lets see what tomorrow brings.
So Saturday dawned and Willow and I were out and up at em as they say, having seen a Sparrow Hawk on the hedge next to the bedroom with a Blackbird kill I was fairly confident that it was going to be a good morning. In the end it was perhaps a little disappointing perhaps but maybe I have just been spoilt this week.
Walking along the hedges the birds were moved spaced out over the whole patch today but I managed to find 7 plus Chiffchaff, a good total of 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Redstart, and 3 Spotted Flycatchers.
The usual Woodpeckers were about with 1 Green and at least 2 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers seen.
Overhead at least 120 plus Swallows passed over or were feeding over the patch ,they were kept company with just 15 plus House Martin today .The major surprise was the number of Goldfinches with at least 125 plus this morning ,including a large flock of at least 80 plus , these birds will pass through in good numbers for the next few weeks if we are lucky. A nice surprise was the sound of at least 130 plus feral Greylag Geese as passed over ,plastic I know but still nice to see.
Raptors got in the act with a male Kestrel ,2 Buzzard and another Sparrow Hawk this one getting mobbed by a large number of Swallows.
On the field margins there were 7 Stock Dove, and in one hedge a nice sight of a flock of 30 plus Long Tailed Tits . Another bonus was the sight of a flock of 30 plus House Sparrows feeding on stubble, a much rarer sight than it should be nowadays. The walk was brought down a bit with the unpleasant sighting of 2 gun toting guys who were about to start shooting crows etc very very sad .
Any way lets see what tomorrow brings.
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Migration marches on
Out again early this morning, with the promised cold snap here I was wondering what might be about.
The first bird I heard was a singing Willow Warbler so it was obvious that birds were on the move .In the end I managed to find just 2 Willow Warblers but did find 9 plus Chiffchaff . Other warblers present were a Lesser Whitethroat , 7 plus Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap . As you can see certain species are getting harder to find and others are showing daily increases and decreases .
Overhead Swallows and House Martins passed over many heading south west with 100 plus of each been seen in the 3 hours I was on the patch .
2 flocks of Greylags heads towards Tirley fishing pits from the river meadows with 33 birds been seen .
Other Autumnal signs were a small flock of 3 Mistle Thrush and a small flock of 7 Skylark ,the first of many I hope this Autumn/Winter. A Pied Wagtail passed over to the south west ,was this a migrant or one of the resident birds ?
A pair of Ravens gronked over the patch again today , they really are almost resident now , great birds to see .
Raptors were 2 Buzzard and a male Kestrel .
At least 2 Bullfinch called from the hedges again ,so the Bullfinch fan can be happy they are still around.
The rest of list for today was made up of a fly over Green Woodpecker and 2 Greater Spotted Wood pecker and a superb Brown Hare.
The first bird I heard was a singing Willow Warbler so it was obvious that birds were on the move .In the end I managed to find just 2 Willow Warblers but did find 9 plus Chiffchaff . Other warblers present were a Lesser Whitethroat , 7 plus Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap . As you can see certain species are getting harder to find and others are showing daily increases and decreases .
Overhead Swallows and House Martins passed over many heading south west with 100 plus of each been seen in the 3 hours I was on the patch .
2 flocks of Greylags heads towards Tirley fishing pits from the river meadows with 33 birds been seen .
Other Autumnal signs were a small flock of 3 Mistle Thrush and a small flock of 7 Skylark ,the first of many I hope this Autumn/Winter. A Pied Wagtail passed over to the south west ,was this a migrant or one of the resident birds ?
A pair of Ravens gronked over the patch again today , they really are almost resident now , great birds to see .
Raptors were 2 Buzzard and a male Kestrel .
At least 2 Bullfinch called from the hedges again ,so the Bullfinch fan can be happy they are still around.
The rest of list for today was made up of a fly over Green Woodpecker and 2 Greater Spotted Wood pecker and a superb Brown Hare.
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Martins on the move
Out again this morning and it was a lot colder and it has to be said a lot quieter . The most obvious thing was the large numbers of House Martins moving through , I estimated at least 180 plus feeding over the field with the magic hedgerow and there were still a few at the local colony ,with them were around 70 plus Swallow ,but they were moving through in groups of 10 to 15 birds and not stopping , all heading in a south westerly direction . Its pleasing to report a high number of juveniles of both species in the flocks so it looks as if it has been a good breeding season this year. Try as I might I could not find a single Sand Martin in the throng.
As for the hedges themselves it was a lot quieter today and it was hard work in finding the birds this morning ,however I still managed to find 6 plus chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler (both very helpfully singing ), a Whitethroat, and a brief female Redstart and at the end of the walk 1 Blackcap.
For my Bullfinch fan they will be glad to know that I managed to find 2 birds this morning in the old apple trees.
2 plus Ravens gronked their way around the area . 6 Stock Doves showed themselves today where were they yesterday ?
Another sign that Autumn is now well on its way was the discovery of the first Jay. They will pass through for a few weeks then disappear until the spring again.
The best of the rest were a Green Woodpecker ,Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Buzzard .
Tommorrows another day and with a cold front due to arrive tonight who knows what will appear ? .
As for the hedges themselves it was a lot quieter today and it was hard work in finding the birds this morning ,however I still managed to find 6 plus chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler (both very helpfully singing ), a Whitethroat, and a brief female Redstart and at the end of the walk 1 Blackcap.
For my Bullfinch fan they will be glad to know that I managed to find 2 birds this morning in the old apple trees.
2 plus Ravens gronked their way around the area . 6 Stock Doves showed themselves today where were they yesterday ?
Another sign that Autumn is now well on its way was the discovery of the first Jay. They will pass through for a few weeks then disappear until the spring again.
The best of the rest were a Green Woodpecker ,Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Buzzard .
Tommorrows another day and with a cold front due to arrive tonight who knows what will appear ? .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)