Sunday 25 September 2011

I awoke this morning and looked out the window to see a wall of fog! So it was back to bed for another hour for me, then a leisurely breakfast followed, but by 8am the fog was still as thick as ever, so I went out anyway.

It was as yesterday, only a few of the more vocal species were recorded, singing ROBIN, calling CARRION CROW,  plus the cackling of JACKDAWS and MAGPIES. A PIED WAGTAIL was heard over the Greenhouse Complex, where a few WOODPIGEONS clattered out of a low bush, but the hope of seeing something new for the month or even the year dwindled away with every hour the fog persisted, which it did until just before ten, when the sun appeared and the temperature shot up, but it was far too late by then.

I finished the full patch walk, recording 41 species, most of which were the regulars, but it was fun trying to take a photo ( and failing) of the KINGFISHER at the College Grounds, where the only two summer birds were seen before the fog cleared, those being BLACKCAP and CHIFFCHAFF. After the fog cleared a continual stream of HOUSE MARTINS were seen passing overhead throughout the last hour of the walk, with smaller numbers of SWALLOWS with them.

I struggled to find much more of note, but it was a good sight to see at least 12 BULLFINCH'S on powerlines over the Scrubby Woods, most of them immature birds. Whats the betting tomorrows walk to work is not a foggy one!!!

Yet More FOG!!

House Sparrow

Sparrowhawk (from my garden)

8 comments:

Chris said...

How can you see birds in such a fog? You probably have very good eyes ;-) I'm very bad at bad light ;-) The sparrowhawk shot is fantastic Warren.

Warren Baker said...

Most of the birds were just heard Chris.

Rohrerbot said...

It has been foggy lately over at your place. Your last posts seem like something out of a fantasy novel like Lord of the Rings. It would be a nice walk though. That sparrowhawk shot is great. When I lived in Wisconsin, I would do the same thing. Fog is cool here in Tucson, but if it happened everyday, I think I'd go back to bed as well!:)

Bob Bushell said...

You caught a Sparrowhawk, bet he's honoured.

Marc Heath said...

Lovely Sparrowhawk shot, seems the fog mustbe inland as I did not see any this morning...... thank god!

Anonymous said...

Great shots again, Warren.
You`re probably right about the lack of fog when it`s time to be back at work.

Mike Attwood said...

Superb pic of the sparrowhawk Warren

Alan Pavey said...

You do well with Sparrowhawks perching for you Warren, great pic. I struggle not to disturb them and they are rare in the garden.