Marshside

Photos

Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwits, Golden Plovers, Little Egret, Pink-footed Geese, Kestrel and Merlin at Marshside

30th October

Early this gloomy Sunday morning a splash of colour was provided by 28 Goldfinches and 10 Greenfinches on the feeders in the garden. A Coal Tit and a Mistle Thrush provided a supporting cast while it is clear the number of Blackbirds flitting around has significantly increased. On my way past the feeding station in Waterworks Lane a flock of 25 Collared Dovers flew up – no wonder the seed is getting hammered!

I set off down the M6 intending to go to the Wirral somewhere but changed my made and changed course for Marshside. On arrival here and even before I got out of the car I could see a flock of small birds around the sand plant and winding my window down I clocked a flock of over 250 Greenfinches. This is probably the largest flock of this species I have ever seen! The birds quickly began to disperse though some hung around for a while. The sides of the plant, as I walked round with Bill, seemed to be lifting with birds, mainly Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Reed Buntings and sifting through them I also found a Rock Pipit.

Lots of Pinks were out on the marsh – numerous heads popped up out of the vegetation as we walked round the path and several hundred flew off and over heading inland. A Marsh Harrier flew past distantly. As we walked further round I saw another Marsh Harrier (or perhaps the same one?) and over the next twenty minutes I had three more harrier sightings but couldn’t figure out how many birds. The gloomy light conditions weren’t helping. Three Snipe flushed and flew over.

It was very noticeable that large numbers of Starlings were around – large flocks were flying around, some just moving from one marsh to another but a few flew off into the distance. A conservative estimate of the number of birds I saw today would be 30,000 and they presented some stunning views as they swirled around in the sky making fantastic shapes. It got me thinking of the roost at Shapwick Heath (won’t be long now!).

I then headed off down to Crossens Outer Marsh, noting a male Merlin and a couple of Kestrels perched on fence posts along the way. Crossens, when I arrived, was lifting with birds. I spent an hour or so just watching them. I would estimate there were at least 8000 Wigeon, 1800+ Black-tailed Godwits, 800+ Golden Plovers, 25+ Ruff, 200+ Knot, 20+ Dunlin, a single Bar-tailed Godwit and numerous Teal, Lapwing and Redshank which I didn’t get round to counting. Quite a stunning sight! Far out on the marsh a Peregrine was perched on a log – it eventually lifted off and flew over, panicking everything and creating another spectacle. The Peregrine seemed half-hearted though and drifted off in the direction of Suttons Marsh. I also spotted a Raven out on the marsh eating something and several Little Egrets.

I started wandering back and then bumped into Jonathan. We found another two female/juvenile Merlins and two juvenile Marsh Harriers showed well. We went back toward the sand plant and headed over towards Mount Baker where a decent number of birders were already present. As we approached Jonathan spotted a female / juvenile Merlin having a pop at a flock of Starlings. It singled one shep out and a fantastic pursuit followed which ultimately ended in a meal for the persistent little falcon.

Jonathan also found a Short-eared Owl perched on a distant fencepost – it preened for a while and then dropped down and disappeared. A 2cy type male Marsh Harrier appeared (probably the bird I saw first thing) and in the distance I could see a Peregrine having a pop at a wader flock nr Crossens. What a cracking day!!!

Late evening, back at home, I paid a brief visit to HGF where the new birds were 7 Pochards and then the feeding station where 69 Tree Sparrows were in residence. I watched them leave to roost with most heading towards the roost site near the water treatment works but part of the flock headed off towards Arbury Lane. I really must have a good look round there for these birds. Interesting too that the number of House Sparrows has dropped off as the Tree Sparrow numbers have built up. A cock Yellowhammer was further up the lane.

31st October

Aside from a very brief, early morning visit to HGF (yesterdays Pochards were still present), no birding today (in Brum again).

Rixton owls

Photos

Buzzard at Rixton

Tree Sparrows at Waterworks Lane feeding station

Teal at Newton Lake

24th October

A Sparrowhawk in the garden and 15 Tree Sparrows at the feeding station were the only birds of note today.

25th October

At HGF this morning 31 Redwings flew from a roost site near Myddleton Hall. A flock of 360+ Pink-footed Geese flew over heading SE. In Rixton this afternoon 33 Skylarks were in a ploughed field off Holly Bush Lane.

26th October

No birding today.

27th October

Not much new at HGF this morning - about the only note was the Wigeon flock increasing to 19. Late afternoon I had a quick walk down the path from the end of Moss Side Lane in Rixton. The bushes were full of Redwings and Fieldfares with 3 Jays, a Kestrel and a Buzzard also seen. In the ploughed field off Holly Bush Lane were 19 Skylarks and a further four Kestrels were seen along this lane. A quick look at the feeding station – 68 Tree Sparrows and 3 Grey Partridges were feeding and at Newton Lake at dusk 83 Teal and 4 Little Grebes counted.

28th October

Travelling back from Birmingham today I had the usual Friday traffic disaster with 40 miles of static vehicles on the M6 north bound. Every f***ing Friday is now the same and starting work at silly am to try and get away early and then still be faced with this is gutting.

Anyway after several hours I hade made it as far as the south end of the Thelwall before grinding to a halt a short time before sunset so I diverted off to Rixton – might as well take a punt on some birds on the mosses as well as sit there on the motorway. Driving down Holly Bush Lane I noted two coveys of Grey Partridges in a ploughed field (25 + 4) but not much else around. At the bottom I stopped and got out to scan around (nothing) before getting back in and driving down Prospect Lane. In the gloom I had forgotten to put my headlights on and a large bird flew past briefly and quickly disappeared – what the hell was that?

By the fishing pools I met a birder I see here sometimes who had been watching a Short-eared Owl for around an hour by the farm on Prospect Lane (perhaps that was what I saw). After a quick chat I headed back to see if I could pick up the SEO. I didn’t see it, however turning into Holly Bush Lane again I saw a Barn Owl perched on a fencepost. It allowed me to drive opposite to it and I sat there watching the bird. It then flew around the lane before heading off over the fields. I decided to head back down Prospect Lane (bit of a yo-yo session this) to tell the other birder when the SEO flew across the front of my car! Next three groups of Canada Geese flew past and then in the dark numerous Redwings began flying over. It certainly made up for the trip home.

29th October

Not much doing at HGF this morning. I nipped over to the feeding station just in time to see a large mixed sparrow flock flying off. A few minutes later part of the flock (39 Tree Sparrows) returned, however I didn’t have time to hang around. Later in the morning I returned to find the feeding station quiet – I suspect a load of well fed spadgers were dozing in the middle of that thick hedge as they do. Two Kestrels and two Buzzards were present in Waterworks Lane. One of the latter flew over a stubble strip and flushed a mixed flock comprising 14 Skylarks and 17 Linnets.

Late evening I headed off to Rixton for another stab at the owls. I parked up at the junction of Prospect and Holly Bush Lanes and watched the area from there. Quite soon a Peregrine flew over and headed over to Risley Moss and then two coveys of Grey Partridges (10+8) appeared in the bottom field. I was soon joined by David Spencer. David and I stood there nattering when he spotted an owl quartering over the field south of Prospect Lane – a SEO. We watched this bird for around 20 minutes and then David left. The SEO then disappeared so I started scanning the fence line where I had seen the Barn Owl yesterday. Suddenly in the gloom the Barn Owl flew from somewhere behind me and straight past down the fence line. It quickly disappeared.

Interesting that the local farmer is still building his clay pigeon shooting centre at the end of the track down from the bottom of Holly Bush Lane. Apparently he started developing this before realising he needed to apply for planning permission which was subsequently refused after complaints from locals.

Morecambe Blackwits

Photos

Black-headed Gull at Bolton-Le-Sands

Crow, Oystercatcher, Lapwings (inc one with metal BTO ring), Redshank, Pintails and Black-tailed Godwits all off Scalestone Point, Morecambe

21st October

Nothing new at HGF this morning. On my way into Burtonwood I noted 43 Common Gulls on the rugby pitch again. Three Corn Buntings were in Holcroft Lane on my way to work.

This evening I walked Bill down Barrow Lane. 71 Grey Partridges, 3 Buzzards and a Kestrel were seen. A local falconer then turned up to exercise his Peregrines (he had at least four). He set up a kite and sent up a large first winter female. When the falcon had gained height he released a Feral Pigeon from a box. A cracking chase ensued with the falcon missing the pigeon on four passes. I was a bit annoyed though and was willing the pigeon to escape, which it did by diving into some trees on Kenyon Lane. The Peregrine then perched up high in one of these trees to the anguish of the falconer.

22nd October

I arrived at HGF this morning in the semi gloom of dawn and virtually the first bird seen was a brownish female Peregrine which flew low over the pool and up the north bank and over my head. It could easily have been the falconers bird from yesterday evening a few miles down the road. I didn’t see any jessies, however apparently the birds sometimes have some type of ankle bracelet. Not much else doing so I wandered over to Newton Lake where, in one of those rare moments here, all the Teal were out in open water instead of skulking at the back out of sight. I counted 137 ducks, a few minutes later I could see just a handful as normal service resumed. A Nuthatch, a Buzzard and 24 Canada Geese were there.

Late morning we headed up to the van. I managed a quick walk by the Lune at Halton Forge Bank Weir – 2 Grey Wags and a Kingfisher were the only birds of note.

23rd October

Had a wander to Heysham this morning. 10 Twite and 4 Linnets were at the feeding station before being flushed. There was nothing much about so I went to Morecambe. Off Scalestone Point on an ebbing tide, a large wader flock included 65 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Grey Plover. Nine Pintails were feeding at the water’s edge. 67 Eiders floated on the sea. At Bolton-Le-Sands there was little on show other than 5 Little Egrets.

This afternoon I took Bill for a walk by the Lune from Lloyn Bridge. A large flock of Fieldfares (161) was in bushes by the river. Three Goosanders and an Oystercatcher were on the river and a few Meadow Pipits were flitting around. This evening 40+ Redwings flew over the van late on heading north.

Rutland Water

Photos

White-rumped Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Dunlin and American Wigeon all at Rutland Water

18th October

I was working in Slough this morning and was inspecting a high, flat roof on a factory early on when I heard some unfamiliar bird calls. In the distance I could see 4 birds flying round in a circuit and my dozy brain couldn’t quite compute until it finally dawned on me that they were Ring-necked Parakeets. Another bird appeared shortly after and then a flock of 17 birds flew right past me on the roof! What a start to the morning! (Yes I know they are as common as muck down here).

I got an early start back and driving up the M40 a flock of 200+ Golden Plover flew over the car. I also counted 28 Red Kites today.

I got back relatively early and headed over to the Wirral. I decided to check out Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. Don’t like – it seems too artificial for me and I don’t like the hides. A flock of 14 Pink-footed Geese flew over and 22 Little Egrets flew early into the roost.

I decided to leave and go to Denhall Lane where I parked up and just sat watching the marsh. A male Stonechat was flitting around near the lane and both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen. I began counting the Little Egrets flying in to roost – eventually 126 flew in (plus the birds I saw earlier at the reserve) and one of the last birds over was a Great White Egret. As the light fell a Barn Owl came out to play!

19th October

Nothing to report from an early morning visit to HGF. 24 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer were at the feeding station when I went past.

This afternoon I rolled up at Rutland Water (working nearby tomorrow). I headed for the Lapwing Hide where a White-rumped Sandpiper has been in residence. The wader was hanging around with a mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plovers (plus a Grey Plover) and was bloody difficult to pick up. The birds weren’t exactly close which didn’t help, however I really struggled to pick the WRS. Eventually when I finally sussed it I found I could easily relocate it in the flock. The hide was full of puzzled birders who struggled with this one! I then scanned the far side of the bay here and soon found the drake American Wigeon. I was playing with my new digiscoping camera, a Nikon P7100. It has some issues, however the reach of this camera is amazing. The American Wigeon in the photos was over 600 yards away!

I then headed back to the centre and parked myself in front of one of the first story windows overlooking the pond where five of the locals were already in residence. Two Sparrowhawks, two Kestrels and a Buzzard put in appearances. Six Little Egrets also showed and I finally spotted a couple of gyppo geese in a distant field. Then a slightly bizarre bit. I saw an adult Med Gull fly past the window. I looked round and no one had moved so I said “Med Gull” and five pairs of hands instantly grabbed bins and began scanning round. None of them could see it. I leaned forward and stuck my head completely out of this first floor window and I could still see the Med flying away so I called it again. Five heads suddenly popped out of the window just as the Med disappeared around a corner. Having sat back down, five heads glared at me with that look that says “I didn’t see the bird so you made it up!” Six Snipe were also seen emerging from the reeds at dusk.

20th October

Six Pochard and four Mute Swans (3 x 2cy type birds and a cygnet) were new on HGF this morning. 24 Tree Sparrows and 8 Grey Partridges at the feeding station.

YLG @ HGF!

Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Houghton Green Flash

13th October

Nice morning today. I quite enjoyed my short walk to HGF. In the south field was a single covey of 34 Grey Partridges and five Skylarks were also skimming over the stubble. The Wigeon flock has increased to 8. What was interesting today is that there were only 9 Great Crested Grebes present on the pool (I looked carefully), half the number of yesterday. I had a quick look at the pool later on and the number was back to 18!

Had a quick look at Moat Lane pools this afternoon. JP4 and friend had been joined by a couple of Tufted Ducks and a Jay screamed in the trees by the edge of the pool. There were 10 Teal on the pool at the base of the tip while a flock of 30+ Linnets was seen further up the lane. 4 Buzzards and 3 Kestrels also seen over the mosses.

Lots of finches in the garden today -30+ Goldfinches and 10 Greenfinches. At the feeding station were 40+ House Sparrows and 18 Tree Sparrows. Three Buzzards and 17 Skylarks were in Waterworks Lane and a covey of 11 Grey Partridges was seen in a field off Golborne Rd.

Late afternoon I walked down Barrow Lane in stunning sunshine. The highlight were two Merlins in what was the oat field - a male and a female perched side by side. The male seemed to pester the female before flying off – the latter didn’t move for a good while. There were quite a few Linnets buzzing around and eventually I counted 199 (70, 65, 2, 15, 11, 34 and 2) and all the birds flew from the direction of Highfield Moss and over in the direction of Highfield Lane, Winwick. Other birds were also moving through including 29 Redwings (my first of the autumn), 13 Skylarks, 6 Pied Wagtails and 8 Swallows. Three Buzzards and a Kestrel completed the raptor line up and two coveys of Grey Partridges were seen.

I rounded off a day of bits and bats but thoroughly enjoyable birding with a quick look at Newton Lake late evening. 53 Teal were present along with 4 Tufties, 4 Little Grebes, a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher which flew over the back of the pool.

14th October

A late evening visit to HGF. The Wigeon flock is up to 12 and a couple of Pochard were present. Two coveys of Grey Partridges in Waterworks Lane this evening and a Fieldfare flew over the garden.

15th October

This morning I took Bill to Barrow Lane at first light. It was one of those clear, still mornings that was extremely enjoyable to be out and about in and quite a few birds moved through in the first hour, after which it was very quiet. The birds seen in that hour were:

2 Buzzard
15 Fieldfare
59 Grey Partridge
14 Herring Gull
10 House Sparrow
5 Lapwing
36 Lesser Black-backed Gull
3 Meadow Pipit
6 Pied Wagtail
141 Redwing
1 Skylark
2 Snipe
400+ Starling
13 Tree Sparrow
450+ Woodpigeon

A mid morning visit to HGF started with a covey of 32 Grey Partridges in the field opposite the kennels. 9 Skylarks and 13 Fieldfare were in the south field. Pretty much as was on the water.

In the garden this morning were 12 Redwing, a Coal Tit, 20+ Goldfinches and 35+ Greenfinches. Around the corner at the feeding station were 21 Tree Sparrows.

This afternoon I headed over to Rixton. On the way through Culcheth 3 Corn Buntings were on the wires on Holcroft Lane. Moat Lane pools were quiet apart from a fly over female Sparrowhawk so I decided to check out the pool at the side of the landfill site. This was a bit busier with 27 Teal, 9 Tufties, 4 Gadwall and a Little Grebe being the highlights. I then wandered down the footpath at the end of Moss Side Lane.

A Willow Tit was the first decent bird and quite a few Redwings and Fieldfares were flitting around. At the end near the reedbed I flushed a juvenile Grey Heron from the dyke – it flew into the dead tree nearby. While I was trying to digiscope it a Golden Plover flew over, calling. A male Sparrowhawk then appeared followed by a Kestrel and 3 Buzzards. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Jays were also seen. Back around the mosses I picked up another Buzzard and five more Kestrels.

Late evening I walked Bill back down Barrow Lane and spotted 10 Golden Plovers in a field near the aircraft strip – presumably the same birds visited Pennington the next day.

16th October

A late afternoon visit to HGF on a windy day. On arrival at the south bank I could see plenty of gulls on the water and quickly sifting through them I spotted a Yellow-legged Gull candidate. I watched the bird drifting around at the back of the gull flock and torn between YLG and an argentatus Herring Gull. At times it resembled the latter because the primaries hadn’t fully re-grown yet, giving it a squat and bulky appearance plus in the prevailing light it didn’t look dark enough for YLG. Other features though were consistent with YLG.

I then noticed John Tymon who came over and queried the bird and suggested YLG. We watched it drift way over the far side and then it took off and showed its yellow legs. I shouted at John to photograph the bird in flight (he did but forgot to change from manual focus I think so all the shots were blurred) and I watched it flying round the pool. I was sure I could see a bar on P5 when it briefly circled over us and I thought John’s photos would confirm this. All they did confirm was a large black wedge on the primaries consistent with YLG.

At home I studied some highly zoomed digiscoped shots I took in a brief interlude of dull light (which I couldn’t see at the time because I have broken the LCD on my camera!). These confirmed that the head shape, bill structure, gonys spot, mantle shade, fine streaking, red eye ring etc were all present and correct. The zoom on my digiscoping camera paid dividends today. A first for me here!

There were six gull species here today as an adult Great Black-backed Gull dropped in late on while a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over John’s head as he walked away. Seven Little Grebes were on the water along with six Mute Swan cygnets. A female Sparrowhawk flew over the feeding station so I didn’t see any sparrows during my brief visit there.

17th October

This morning dawned overcast and windy. At HGF few gulls and no swans. A couple of Redwings flew through. I had a quick walk down Barrow Lane this afternoon. 137 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 60+ Linnets and a Kestrel were seen.

Merlin

Ropey digivideo of a Merlin at Barrow Lane (it was a bit windy!)

Sea watching on the Wirral

No photos as I accidentally deleted them all from my camera!

7th October

After the strong NW winds of the last day or so, early morning found me parked up at Fort Perch Rock. Within five minutes I found a Leach’s Petrel trying to battle its way out of the river. In reality the poor bird would make perhaps a hundred yards and then be blown backwards only to start the forward progress again. I watched this single bird do this several times when suddenly a gull flying past caught my eye. I quickly followed it and realised it was a juvenile Sabine’s Gull. I tracked it for a short time and then a shearwater flashed past so I briefly diverted onto this. It was a Manxie so I tracked back but couldn’t re-find the Sabs.

A Great Crested Grebe ended up in the same straits as the Leach’s – it tried to fly out and ended up going backwards before giving up and settling on the river. An adult Little Gull flew past and then a 2cy Mediterranean Gull, 4 Arctic Terns, a Fulmar and a further 4 Leach’s Petrels. Finally 2 Red-throated Divers flew past and then I ran out of time. Good start to the day though. I did however manage to somehow miss every Skua that passed out of the river during that period – apparently there were a few!

A visit to HGF yielded little today. The ringed juvenile Mute Swan was still keeping its distance, the Wigeon flock had increased to 4 and a covey of 7 Grey Partridges was near the kennels. Three Buzzards were also seen.

At the feeding station in Waterworks Lane the mixed sparrow flock comprised 19 Tree and 37 House with 5 Grey Partridges also there. While stood in the garden late morning a Swallow flew overhead – first one for a while.

Late afternoon I visited Rixton. Five Wheatears in a ploughed field off Holly Bush Lane were a nice treat. A flock of 90+ Linnets was buzzing around and on the pool at the base of the tip was a Green Sandpiper. A Little Grebe was present on Moat Lane pool 1 and a Sparrowhawk circled overhead. A late evening walk down Barrow Lane with Bill yielded nothing other than 20+ Tree Sparrows.

8th October.

I thought I would spend a Saturday morning at Leasowe Gunsite this morning. The wind of the last few days was just as strong, however the direction had veered off and it was relatively quiet. I saw a distant Leach’s Petrel pass through but little else. After a while I noticed a gang of around a dozen juvenile Herring Gulls showing a keen interest in something on the water surface quite close in. That something turned out to be a knackered Guillemot and for the next half an hour they repeatedly harried it while their unfortunate victim repeatedly dived to try and get away.

The Guillemot earned an unexpected reprieve when a second and very knackered looking Leach’s Petrel flew through the gang of tormentors and the gulls subsequently left the Guillemot and set off in pursuit of their new target. What followed was a master class in evasion. Even looking half dead the Leach’s seemed to just side slip and ease away each time a gull got near and even with a dozen birds after it, they never looked like laying a feather on the petrel. Amazing to watch.

I then headed off to Parkgate. A large Peregrine was causing havoc and chased a Curlew over the salt marsh – not sure if it caught it. A Greenshank was on one of the pools while a couple of Ravens were out on the marsh. 15 Little Egrets were also in the vicinity and a Swallow flew through.

In the afternoon, back home, the weather deteriorated with rain adding to the wind. I made quick visits to HGF (a pair of Mute Swans were new) and the feeding station (15 Tree Sparrows seen) and then an evening visit to Barrow Lane with Bill. Earlier Jonathan had seen some Golden Plovers – I eventually found two, way out in the field past Parkside Farm. A few Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Grey Partridges were also around.

9th October

After eventually clambering out of bed this morning I decided to head back over to the Wirral for a bit. I turned up at the Donkey Stand Flash, Parkgate and just sat on a bench watching the marsh. A few waders were around including 18 Dunlin and 6 Ringed Plovers. 11 Swallows flew through. At one point, around high tide, a hidden channel seemed to be attracting interest and around a dozen Little Egrets plus herons and various other species descended upon this area. Eventually I also spotted a Great White Egret, way out on the marsh. Jonathan and Ste then turned up and I had a natter before heading off to Burton Marsh. This was disappointing – a fly through Swallow and another couple of Ravens were the only birds of note.

16 Tree Sparrows were seen at the feeding station today. A stroll down Barrow Lane late evening produced the two Golden Plovers from yesterday still present and a large gull flock comprising around 280 LBBG’s. A Linnet flock (90+) and 27 Skylarks were also seen.

10th October

No birding.

11th October

No birding again.

12th October.

Late evening visit to HGF in the drizzle. The Wigeon flock has increased to 5. A covey of 14 Grey Partridges was in Waterworks Lane. In more drizzle I walked Bill down Barrow Lane and saw nothing. I did bump into David Bowman, a fellow birder who lives just a few doors down from me. He has lived there since Feb and this is the first time I have seen him! On the way back down the lane I saw a flock of 27 Tree Sparrows perched on the top of a small hedge in the middle of the field.

Local odds and sods

Tree Sparrow at Waterworks Lane feeding station

1st October

Not much change at HGF this very sunny morning (where has this recent hot spell come from?). A couple of Buzzards loitering around and a Chiffchaff singing in sycamores near the kennels were the main interest.

Most of today was spent in the garden with friends. Plenty of finches and a relatively rare visitor in a Song Thrush plus three different Sparrowhawks flying overhead. We had a walk mid afternoon around Waterworks Lane. The field opposite the farm was being cut and a covey of 14 Grey Partridges was there. I also saw a Jay which was being mobbed by a Crow – not sure what the Jay had done. I get the impression other corvids pick on Jays simply because they can.

Late evening I took Bill for a walk down Barrow Lane. The fields have all been tilled now and this seems to have attracted the attention of some Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 80+ birds there. In what was the oat field a Buzzard was eating a rabbit and I also saw 6 coveys of Grey Partridges totalling 22 birds. 6 Brown Hares emerged from the small conifer plantation.

2nd October

Whereas yesterday and previous days have been somewhat of an Indian summer with scorching temperatures, today was cold and wet. The Song Thrush was present in the garden again and later I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly off. At the feeding station 30+ House Sparrows and 16 Tree Sparrows were briefly joined by a roving flock of 21 Long-tailed Tits. This tit flock was also carrying at least 8 Chaffinches with it but aside from a single Blue Tit, no other tits.

Mid afternoon and late evening were very much contrasts in birding. First, after a few hours of gardening, I headed off to Nateby to see the Solitary Sandpiper. I left my satnav at home and ended up following my nose because I hadn’t a clue how to get there. I eventually found the place OK and trudged across a boggy field in pouring rain to view a small wader from 300m. Fair enough you could just about tell what the bird was but there was nothing overly enjoyable about this. It was out of sight most of the time and I didn’t stay long. I couldn’t help thinking of the bird I saw in Devon last year which came within 30 feet on a bright sunny afternoon.

By contrast I took Bill for a walk late evening down Barrow Lane. It started raining again as we walked down though not quite as hard as earlier today. In what was the oat field was a flock of Skylarks, 164 birds at least. I quite enjoyed standing in the rain and sifting through these birds, looking for something else that may have tagged along. I didn’t find anything, however a flock of Skylarks this size was enjoyable in itself. Around 12 Tree Sparrows were seen in the conifers at Parkside Farm and the flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls was also present.

3rd October

This morning at dawn I visited Barrow Lane to see if the Skylarks were still around and the possibility of something more interesting in better viewing conditions. Unfortunately they were not there – even in the semi-gloom Kestrels and Buzzards were already out and about hunting and may have moved the birds. Three Buzzards were seen and one distant bird was very striking with underparts totally white with no markings, upperparts pale grey with white flashes on the wings and head and neck streaked grey. It quickly disappeared. Around 10 Meadow Pipits flew over plus singles of Lapwing and Cormorant plus two flocks of Linnets (50+ and 20+). Around 20 Tree Sparrows were by Parkside Farm.
Two Mistle Thrushes flew over the garden today. At the feeding station 34 Tree Sparrows were present and a Buzzard flew over.

Early afternoon I visited Moat Lane pools. It was very quiet, aside from the usual two Mute Swans, a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were the only other birds seen. On the mosses a Skylark movement was underway with 35+ birds through south. Nine Buzzards were also present, seven spiralling up together on a thermal and one eating a rabbit on Woodend Lane. The pool at the base of the tip has almost dried up. There was nothing of note at HGF later.

This evening I nipped over to the Moors Pools, Upton Warren for the last hour or so of daylight. It was relatively quiet here too with the highlights being a Green Sandpiper, 7 Snipe, a Kingfisher and a Little Grebe. A very tatty looking male Bullfinch appeared on the feeders.

4th October

No birding today. Was in Brum and had the opportunity to go birding but I felt ill and retreated to my hotel.

5th October

Still a bit flaky – back from Brum. I paid a quick visit to HGF late evening where a ringed Mute Swan juvenile was new in. The bird appeared edgy and I couldn’t read the ring.

6th October

At the feeding station today were 10 Tree Sparrows and 55 House Sparrows. Two coveys of Grey Partridges were also here (8+5) and the sparrows were subsequently made nervous by a Kestrel which seemed to take a half-hearted interest in them.