Sunday 14 September 2014

This morning there was some patchy cloud and a moderate NE wind for my full patch walk, in which I totaled up 46 species, not too bad for a September visit.

Summer species were at a premium, just 2 BLACKCAPS were found, they were in the Wooded Headland at Migrant Alley, where a decent size flock of 75-100 LINNETS were seen feeding on the dandelion seed heads in one of the paddocks, the adjacent sheep pasture had a couple of MEADOW PIPITS drop in, with more passing over as I walked the circuit of Migrant Alley. CHIFFCHAFFS were the only other summer species on the ground today, with two seen along the edge of the Maize crop in the Pub Field, plus another 4 -5 in the Scrubby Woods, where today most of the scarcer woodland species were found, GOLDCREST, TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, COAL TIT, BULLFINCH, JAY and STOCK DOVE all turned out, but no Long Tailed Tit or Songthrush.

Fisherman had ensured nothing was on the Lakes today, having been camped there overnight, just the MUTE SWAN family and the other resident species of COOT, MALLARD and MOORHEN were found on the ornamental lake.

Walking back across the Ashes Lane Field I saw the LITTLE OWL perched up in the old shack, my second of the morning, as another was heard at the Small Holding earlier in the visit.

My end of visit sky watch from my seat at Migrant Alley was a decent hour spent, with the four raptor species of KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, BUZZARD and HOBBY all being seen, plus a lone CORMORANT and a GREY WAGTAIL were also noted going over. A steady procession of mainly HERRING GULLS moved NW, but there were a good few BLACK HEADED GULLS among them. I watched flocks of HOUSE MARTINS fly SW just to the south of my patch as they followed the river Medway, with just a few diverting over the sheep pasture to feed, but only one small flock of around a dozen SWALLOW were seen with them.

Nothing to add for the months list again, which has stalled at 68 for the time being, Skylark, Yellowhammer and Greylag Goose look to be the best bet to increment that total, but they aren't anywhere to be seen for the moment.

Photo's today come from my garden feeding station...............





This WREN was quite enjoying itself in the sunshine
 The GREAT TITS are looking smart in their freshly moulted feathers


1 comment:

Marc Heath said...

Lovely clear shots Warren. That camera certainly does a good job indeed.