Late afternoon mooch in the dull conditions.

22 Meadow Pipits - mostly over south in ones and twos.
9 Linnets - flying over
5 Chaffinches
2 Reed Buntings
2 Buzzards
4 Yellowhammers
3 Goldfinches
1 Coal Tit - New patch tick. It's taken me a long time to get this one down here and it was part of a sizeable mixed tit flock moving up and down the eastern side.
2 Willow Tits - also part of the tit flock.
16 Long Tailed Tits - the bulk of the tit flock.
3 Pheasants - all poults.
3 Pied Wagtails - over north.
1 Snipe
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Grey Heron

Also, a Pipit species that flew up from the boggy area and perched in a bare tree. Bad light and distance prevented a good look at it but I'm fairly sure it wasn't a Meadow Pipit due the obvious supercilium it had plus the slightly larger size.

A bit of visible migration this morning from 8 - 10am. Small groups of Swallows heading south plus ones and twos of Meadow Pipits. Also six Snipe going north and the first Skylarks for a while moving through.

12 Grey Partridges - 10, 2
33 Meadow Pipits - mostly southwards.
6 Snipe - two separate groups of three going north.
6 Linnets
2 Pied Wagtails - south.
10 Pheasants - 1 male and 9 poults
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Kestrels
16 Reed Buntings
3 Jays
18 Goldfinches
16 Yellowhammers - numbers seem to have increased with the fields being ploughed.
3 Buzzards
11 Chaffinches
3 Skylarks
4 Canada Geese - through east.
1 Whitethroat - female.
4 Tree Sparrows - with Yellowhammers and Chaffinches on ploughed field on eastern side.

First visit for a while due to being on holiday last week.

Very quiet late afternoon but still a few birds to be seen.

c120 Lapwings - over west.
4 Corn Buntings - all juvs.
2 Buzzards
3 Chaffinches
c20 Long Tailed Tits - in a mixed flock with Blue and Great Tits.
2 Kestrels
2 Pheasants
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Moorhen
3 Linnets

Quiet morning in gloom 10 - 12noon.

Very few small birds about at the time.

1 swallow
1 swift
2 yellowhammer
3 great tits
1 reed bunting heard

Also

2 Jays

5 Kestrels (2 flew out of tree belt S of moss as I walked along the airstrip, and another 3 were duelling with corvids over the field SE)

1 Common Buzzard flew out of trees edging the old quarry as I walked past, leading to the swift scrambling of a squadron of corvids to escort it away S out of their airspace!

2 Grey Partridge on edge of field W, and 6 more flushed on the main moss near the pond, as usual scaring the livingdaylights out of me! Good view though, as they fanned out in various directions.



-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Wednesday 28th of August 2013 03:44:37 PM

A few migrants still trickling through with the tit flocks this morning. Again, most activity was on the eastern side.

1 Chiffchaff
2 Sparrowhawks - m,f
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Snipe
3 Kestrels - family group.
1 Jay
3 Whitethroats
2 Willow Warblers
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Tree Pipit - over south, heard only.
1 Blackcap - male.
Possible Garden Warbler - fleeting glimpse unfortunately.
Plus a few Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers. A few Swallows over southwards also and around 50 mixed Corvids by Highfield Farm.

Another dawn raid on the moss and still fairly quiet at the moment. One or two migrants in the bushes and a bit of movement overhead too so not too bad really.

3 Kestrels - two together probably parent and juv.
1 Grey Partridge
7 Yellowhammers
8 Meadow Pipits - 6 over plus two grounded birds.
15 Reed Buntings
1 Chiffchaff
5 Chaffinches
5 Canada Geese over south.
5 Linnets
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Pheasant - male.
1 Willow Warbler
74 Lapwings over north in one big flock.
1 Mallard through west.
14 Goldfinches
1 Whitethroat
1 Mistle Thrush

Very quiet this morning with the only notable birds being six juvenile Grey Partridges, two Blackcaps passing through and a good steady movement of Woodpigeons.

4 Chaffinches
2 Pheasants - both male and one a juvenile.
2 Willow Warblers
2 Reed Buntings
1 Kestrel
3 Goldfinches
4 Yellowhammers - two juveniles.
5 Linnets
6 Grey Partridges - all juvs.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - female.
2 Blackcaps - m,f.

Mid morning mooch with the new pooch and a quadruple of raptors seen.

A Hobby flew through north just ahead of a short shower plus a female Sparrowhawk still knocking around. A Kestrel was hunting over the moss while a Buzzard glided through on the southern boundary. Very little noted of passerines but it was quite windy.

A new patch tick was very welcome this morning in the form of a flyover Goosander. Other than this the moss seemed a little quieter and definitely felt as though there'd been a bit of a 'clear out' of juveniles.

1 Corn Bunting
9 Yellowhammers
10 Goldfinches - five juvs.
3 Mistle Thrushes
3 Chaffinches
2 Pheasants - both males.
8 Willow Warblers
19 Linnets
9 Reed Buntings
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Common Whitethroats
2 Greenfinches
1 Goosander over west.
1 Sparrowhawk - female getting loads of grief from a Jay.
1 Jay
1 Pied Wagtail

Also a good movement of Woodpigeons. Surely a sign that autumn migration in now underway.

Early morning mooch again. Loads of birds around as is usual of late.

2 Corn Buntings together near Highfield Farm.
2 Grey Partridge
10 Goldfinches - 6 juvs.
9 Yellowhammers - 4 juvs.
1 Skylark
8 Willow Warblers - 2 juvs.
8 Common Whitethroats - 6 juvs.
3 Pheasants - one adult male plus two poults.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Nuthatch - juv.
3 Chaffinches
13 Meadow Pipits - at least 9 juvs plus two adults with food.
19 Reed Buntings - at least 9 juvs.
1 Moorhen
c28 Linnets - mostly juvs.
1 Song Thrush
1 Tree Sparrow
4 Greenfinches - all juvs.
3 Sand Martins - over south.
1 Yellow Wagtail - over north.

Shed loads of juvenile birds around this morning with the highlight being a Sedge Warbler by the path down to the moss. Sedge Warblers always seem to be passage birds down here and this was my first for this year. A juvenile Chiffchaff was also a pleasant surprise too. Other than that there were several mixed flocks of juveniles that all needed to be scrutinised.

8 Lapwings - one group of seven plus a flyover west.
2 Corn Buntings
12 Yellowhammers - 4 juvs.
1 Sedge Warbler - juv.
27 Linnets - 90% were juvs.
14 Reed Buntings - 8 juvs.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Jay - a very odd looking juvenile with very sparse feathering to its head.
10 Chaffinches - all juvs.
9 Meadow Pipits - 8 juvs.
1 Chiffchaff - juv.
7 Common Whitethroats - 5 juvs.
10 Willow Warblers - 4 juvs.
2 Moorhens - after a couple of months of seeing just one adult bird I finally confirmed breeding this morning with the sight of a fledgling.
1 Pheasant - male.
1 Blackcap - female juv.
12 Goldfinches - 10 juvs - all feeding on thistle heads near the airstrip.
3 Greenfinches - all juvs.
13 Skylarks

Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits all with live food, family of Kestrels Skylarks, Linnets, Blackcap

Another early one today and a nice low mist covering the moss for the early part of my walk. Loads of juveniles around again as before with the star attraction being the large numbers of juvenile Swallows hanging around the pond. They repeatedly perched on the wires over the line and were repeatedly scattered by each passing train. I watched this happen quite a few times, it was quite comical really. Incidentally, Network Rail have installed new fencing along the line next to the eastern crossing. It looks as though they are going to put a gate on to it which may not be a bad thing as it may deter the kids who currently use this end to ride their motorbikes.

1 Grey Heron over west
1 Pied Wagtail juvenile
1 Kestrel
6 Chaffinches - 3 juvs.
19 Skylarks - five singing.
6 Yellowhammers
16 Reed Buntings - three juvs
3 Lapwings over north
3 Willow Warblers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
c50 Swallows - mostly juvs
14 Meadow Pipits - at least ten juvs
4 Linnets
1 Moorhen - first sighting for a while.
1 Tree Sparrow
5 Goldfinches
1 Blackcap
11 Common Whitethroats - including one family of seven.
1 Song Thrush
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Greenfinch - juv
c15 Common Swifts
1 Corn Bunting
1 Treecreeper - year patch tick.

Plus the usual Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Robins, Wrens, Crows and Magpies.

Early morning wander today before the heat of the day took hold. Great to see loads of juveniles around.

10 Skylarks
1 Greenfinch
8 Goldfinches
4 Chaffinches - 2 juvs
9 Reed Buntings - 5 juvs
7 Common Whitethroats - 3 juvs
1 Grey Partridge
c40 Lapwings
5 Yellowhammers
1 Corn Bunting
2 Blackcaps
7 Meadow Pipits - 1 juv
8 Willow Warblers - 3 juvs
10 Linnets
1 Grey Heron over south.
2 Song Thrushes
2 Mistle Thrushes

Good numbers of young Robins and Blue Tits and quite a few Swallows and Swifts moving through.

Another early visit today from 5.45am. Lovely to be out and not a soul around for once.

9 Skylarks - higher numbers than of late and presumably some juvenile birds.
2 Mute Swans over north. Year tick.
6 Meadow Pipits
2 Corn Buntings - one by the wooden bridge, one at the end of the airstrip.
21 Lapwings - feeding by the line. Several family groups.
2 Chaffinches
9 Reed Buntings
4 Linnets
8 Yellowhammers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
6 Willow Warblers
1 Kestrel
10 Goldfinches including one group of six
1 Blackcap - singing male.
1 Yellow Wagtail - flew in from the south and landed on the southern boundary.
3 Whitethroats - two singing males.
1 Cormorant over south east.

Early morning mooch today and plenty of fledglings about.

2 Skylarks
1 Greenfinch
1 Goldfinch
1 Corn Bunting singing by the bridge over the ditch.
9 Yellowhammers
1 Grey Heron over south
10 Chaffinches including two fledglings
5 Meadow Pipits including two fledglings
13 Willow Warblers including four fledglings being fed by a parent.
9 Reed Buntings including one fledgling.
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - female and juvenile.
4 Linnets
2 Whitethroats
1 Lapwing
2 Song Thrushes
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Willow Tits

Upto 20 Swallows feeding on flies over the airstrip too plus plenty of the more commoner birds.

A Corn Bunting singing from the moss on Sunday evening plus all the usual suspects down there.

I also got attacked by a very angry Blue Tit when I must have walked past its young without realising. I had to duck twice as it swooped at my head.

Also a very small deceased mole on the path by the line.

Early morning visit today from 5.30 and no dog walkers about for once. All the usual stuff around including the following.

13 Canada Geese over west
4 Grey Partridges
5 Yellowhammers including one fledgling being fed by an adult.
8 Chaffinches
4 Skylarks
7 Lapwings including one well grown fledgling with two adults.
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Goldfinch
5 Song Thrushes
11 Willow Warblers
1 Buzzard - a very pale bird and not one I've noted down here before.
5 Meadow Pipits
8 Reed Buntings
1 Moorhen
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - female.
2 Whitethroats
1 Oystercatcher
2 Pheasants
6 Linnets

Another early one on the moss in bright and warm conditions. Several species of birds now with fledglings which is nice to see.

5 Skylarks
4 Goldfinches
1 Buzzard
10 Chaffinches
11 Yellowhammers
2 Mistle Thrushes
4 Oystercatchers
7 Lapwings
5 Linnets
5 Meadow Pipits
8 Reed Buntings
10 Willow Warblers
1 Moorhen
2 Jays
1 Whitethroat
4 Song Thrushes
1 White Wagtail
1 Blackcap
5 Long Tailed Tits

A beautiful morning today saw me down on the moss at 6.00am. Plenty of activity around from the usual suspects plus it appears that most of the Wheatears have finally cleared off.

8 Chaffinches
5 Skylarks
11 Willow Warblers
10 Yellowhammers
7 Lapwings
1 Oystercatcher
1 Blackcap
1 Mistle Thrush
13 Reed Buntings
5 Meadow Pipits
1 Long Tailed Tit
5 Whitethroats
2 Jays
1 Song Thrush
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wheatear - female.
2 Linnets
1 Grey Heron

Cold and windy this afternoon down on the moss. Is it going to get warmer any time soon? Needless to say there wasn't a great deal of activity around. 7 Wheatears still in the area with 4 females and a male on the rejuvenated moss. A Garden Warbler was a good find though with only one previous record down here so I was happy with that.

After all the thrills and excitement of the Norfolk trip over the weekend (see Norfolk thread) it was back down to earth with a bump this morning. Plenty activity around but slightly dis-heartened to see all the earth has been churned up through the woods by motor bikers. This is becoming more and more of a problem down here.

4 Grey Partridges
6 Skylarks
8 Chaffinches
1 Grey Heron over south.
5 Linnets
5 Yellowhammers
1 Pied Wagtail
7 Lapwings
4 Whitethroats
10 Reed Buntings
5 Meadow Pipits
1 Tree Sparrow over east.
2 Moorhens
10 Willow Warblers
5 Long Tailed Tits
7 Wheatears - all females and Greenland types. 4 on the burnt moss and three on the field to the east.
1 Song Thrush
1 Oystercatcher
1 Corn Bunting
1 Greenfinch

Plus all the usuals.

Thought I would get out before the rain hit and I am glad I did. Walked barrow lane and back over the moss.

Skylarks plenty
2 yellow wagtails barrow lane.
Then by the airstrip field disturbed a peregrine in the field and got really close views of it fantastic.
1 wheatear moss
1 buzzard moss
2 reed buntings moss.

On a postive note the vegetation on the moss is recovering well and this rain will help things along.

First visit down here since the fire as I've been on holiday. The southern/eastern third of the moss has been scorched but even though it happened only 10 days ago or so there are green shoots all over. I think by three weeks time you won't even be able to tell it had been burnt at all. It does always seem to bounce back quickly after these fires.

The weather was very cold this morning (much colder than I've been used to of late anyway) and bird activity was a little slow to get going. That said though there were a few good birds around. A new tick in the form of a Great Black-backed Gull flew through west. Further on a huge commotion from a raptor had me looking for its source. I soon locked onto a female Peregrine getting a hard time from several Crows. The Peregrine must have made a kill and the Crows were trying to bully her away from it which they eventually succeeded in doing but not before she spent ten minutes flying around and swooping at them. Other notables were 4 Wheatears on the scorched moss with another 3 in the surrounding fields and also an over flying Shelduck. All Wheatears were females and appeared to be Greenland types.

3 Chaffinches
5 Skylarks
8 Yellowhammers
5 Lapwings
7 Meadow Pipits
15 Linnets
7 Wheatears
1 Great Black-backed Gull
2 Oystercatchers
3 Long Tailed Tits
5 Whitethroats
9 Willow Warblers
8 Reed Buntings
1 Peregrine
2 Moorhens
1 Buzzard
1 Song Thrush
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Shelduck