Tree Sparrows at my feeding station
Grey Partridges at the feeding station
Greylags, Rixton
Yellowhammer at the feeding stationxxxxx
5th – 8th October.
Xxxx
Tuesday was a nice sunny day. HGF was much the same with the usual line up of water birds. A Common Sandpiper was again patrolling the shoreline – as I have not recorded one here past early Sept I decided it warranted a very close look. Sadly it wasn’t a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper. A couple of Buzzards soared over the pool and a Chiffchaff called in the south hedge.
Xxxx
I had a wander over to Moat Lane pools in Rixton and was pleasantly surprised to see four Green Sandpipers on pool 1. Five Gadwalls were also present – it’s great to see some ducks coming back onto the pool as the water level increases. An additional adult pair of Mute Swans had joined the three from the weekend – the cob (left, green, BPZ) was busy chasing the other swans around. 11 Skylarks flew over, a Buzzard appeared and then a Green Woodpecker flew over the pool. A single Swallow flew over Holly Bush Lane. Very enjoyable visit!
Xxxx
Early evening I visited the feeding station. I immediately noticed a largish flock of small brown jobs flying into the field opposite and then back to the hawthorn hedge further up. This turned out to be a flock of around 70 Tree Sparrows with a few House Sparrows thrown in. Just like last year it seems they appear from nowhere and have turned up in these numbers far quicker this year. The flock eventually split with 15-20 birds remaining around the feeding station while the rest disappeared. A flock of 50+ Linnets were also feeding in the fields to the west and a covey of 8 Grey Partridges also appeared at the feeding station as did 2 Yellowhammers and 9 Greenfinches.
Xxxxxx
Wednesday morning at HGF and no sign of yesterday’s Common Sandpiper. A third Wigeon was back for the winter today and 99 Lapwings flew over south in four small waves. This evening I managed a trip to Winter Hill and caught up with at least 2 Black Redstarts – they were amazingly elusive though, unlike the four Wheatears flitting around the place. A very brief look at the feeding station produced 8 Tree Sparrows – they have hammered the seed I put out and there was none left!
Xxxxxx
Thursday was largely a non-birding day due to work pressures. On the way home at dusk I did observe a cock Pheasant in a field off Waterworks Lane which was chasing a covey of 7 Grey Partridges. None of the birds flew – they all scuttled around like a sketch from Benny Hill!
Xxxxx
Friday lunch I made a quick visit to Rixton. At Moat Lane pool 1, four Green Sandpipers were again present. 10 Teal flew over the pool (four Tufties were on it) and there was an increase in the Mute Swan numbers. A new and un-ringed adult pair were present in addition to JP4 and the other 2 presumed 2cy birds. Another bird of similar age dropped in while I was there and three juvenile swans were also on the pool. No sign of the pair with the ringed cob from earlier in the week.
Xxxx
Tuesday was a nice sunny day. HGF was much the same with the usual line up of water birds. A Common Sandpiper was again patrolling the shoreline – as I have not recorded one here past early Sept I decided it warranted a very close look. Sadly it wasn’t a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper. A couple of Buzzards soared over the pool and a Chiffchaff called in the south hedge.
Xxxx
I had a wander over to Moat Lane pools in Rixton and was pleasantly surprised to see four Green Sandpipers on pool 1. Five Gadwalls were also present – it’s great to see some ducks coming back onto the pool as the water level increases. An additional adult pair of Mute Swans had joined the three from the weekend – the cob (left, green, BPZ) was busy chasing the other swans around. 11 Skylarks flew over, a Buzzard appeared and then a Green Woodpecker flew over the pool. A single Swallow flew over Holly Bush Lane. Very enjoyable visit!
Xxxx
Early evening I visited the feeding station. I immediately noticed a largish flock of small brown jobs flying into the field opposite and then back to the hawthorn hedge further up. This turned out to be a flock of around 70 Tree Sparrows with a few House Sparrows thrown in. Just like last year it seems they appear from nowhere and have turned up in these numbers far quicker this year. The flock eventually split with 15-20 birds remaining around the feeding station while the rest disappeared. A flock of 50+ Linnets were also feeding in the fields to the west and a covey of 8 Grey Partridges also appeared at the feeding station as did 2 Yellowhammers and 9 Greenfinches.
Xxxxxx
Wednesday morning at HGF and no sign of yesterday’s Common Sandpiper. A third Wigeon was back for the winter today and 99 Lapwings flew over south in four small waves. This evening I managed a trip to Winter Hill and caught up with at least 2 Black Redstarts – they were amazingly elusive though, unlike the four Wheatears flitting around the place. A very brief look at the feeding station produced 8 Tree Sparrows – they have hammered the seed I put out and there was none left!
Xxxxxx
Thursday was largely a non-birding day due to work pressures. On the way home at dusk I did observe a cock Pheasant in a field off Waterworks Lane which was chasing a covey of 7 Grey Partridges. None of the birds flew – they all scuttled around like a sketch from Benny Hill!
Xxxxx
Friday lunch I made a quick visit to Rixton. At Moat Lane pool 1, four Green Sandpipers were again present. 10 Teal flew over the pool (four Tufties were on it) and there was an increase in the Mute Swan numbers. A new and un-ringed adult pair were present in addition to JP4 and the other 2 presumed 2cy birds. Another bird of similar age dropped in while I was there and three juvenile swans were also on the pool. No sign of the pair with the ringed cob from earlier in the week.
xxxxx
At dusk I made a repeat visit. A Kingfisher was perched up on an overhanging branch and a pair of Canada Geese had arrived. 13 Magpies were on one of the mud islands. 4 Grey Partridges were on Hooly Bush Lane - a few Teal and Gadwall were on the tip pool. Later I drove past the feeding station just as darkness fell - 6 Tree Sparrows were present.
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