A cool and misty morning today. The mist didn't rise until gone 10am so bird activity before then was a little low.

3 Yellowhammers
1 Mistle Thrush
17 Chaffinches
8 Reed Buntings
5 Fieldfares
12 Long Tailed Tits
1 Goldcrest
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Skylark - over south.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
c150 Mixed Corvids

Early morning outing today from 7.00 to 9.30. Overcast with little breeze and much less movement than the previous week.

75 Fieldfares - 12 over north, 50 over south plus some local birds.
1 Buzzard
2 Goldcrests
7 Yellowhammers
19 Reed Buntings - including 5 over west.
1 Snipe
2 Pheasants - m,f
2 Meadow Pipits - one north and one south.
6 Chaffinches - one north plus local birds.
1 Pied Wagtail - over south.
7 Long Tailed Tits.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
6 Skylark - over south.
1 Linnet - over north.
1 Redwing
1 Song Thrush
1 Stoat

Another early morning wander around the moss. Not as much migration evident as the last few days but still interesting.

7 Fieldfares
9 Yellowhammers
7 Greenfinches
9 Reed Buntings
58 Linnets - one flock of c50 heading north.
4 Mallards
1 Pheasant
3 Snipe
3 Teal
3 Meadow Pipits
1 Goldfinch
3 Chaffinches
2 Redwings
3 Siskin - over south.
1 Peregrine - drifted over west and caused much commotion with the local Blackbirds.
1 Pied Wagtail
44 Pink Footed Geese - over eastwards.
1 Goldcrest
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Skylarks - over south.
1 Kestrel
2 Tree Sparrows
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Buzzard

Circuit of Barrow Lane and Highfield Moss this morning.

The Moss land was totally dead but quite a few things on Barrow Lane and the fields.

Good numbers of skylark around 50 in fields sparing with one another. Hunting Kestrel and stationary Buzzard perched on fencepost. A covey of 6 Grey Partridges. A flock of maybe 50 or so Lapwings flying fairly high and then moving west. However there were perhaps 20 or so smaller birds flying with the Lapwings might these have been golden plovers? I could not identify them because of the distance.

Another visit this afternoon and what a diference a day makes. Loads more birds around.

c100 Mixed Corvids, c80 Black Headed Gulls and c40 Starlings feeding in the field by the farm that was being ploughed or turned over.
9 Long Tailed Tits - in two small mixed flocks.
1 Goldcrest
6 Chaffinches
7 Grey Partridges
4 Yellowhammers
8 Tree Sparrows
1 Pied Wagtail - over north.
1 Grey Wagtail - over west.
1 Kestrel
1 Cormorant - over west
3 Herring Gulls
1 Common Gull
5 Linnets
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Snipe
2 Skylark
1 Reed Bunting
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Song Thrush

My first outing back on the patch in nearly two weeks due to family holiday. Not much around but what it lacked in quantity it made up for in quality.

3 Buzzards
7 Meadow Pipits
3 Chaffinches
7 Yellowhammers
8 Greenfinches
17 Lapwings over south.
1 Peregrine through west.
1 Pheasant
1 Reed Bunting
1 Siskin over north. New patch tick.
6 Redwing feeding on hawthorn berries. First of the autumn.

Pete Astles wrote:

---

Had a walk on the moss this afternoon not much about few meadow pipits and a couple of Buzzards soaring and enough water to float Noah's Ark.

However just as I was approaching the moss pool disturbed a small falcon which had been on the path it took me a second or two to get on it as it flew over the moss and behind the perimeter trees.

I cant be sure but it might have been a Merlin I have seen plenty of kestrels and it seemed a lot shorter and stockier.

---

I've had quite a few Merlins down there this last winter and spring so I wouldn't be at all surprised. Probably following the Meadow Pipits around.

Good record Pete.

Early morning mooch again today in bright and fresh conditions.

10 Grey Partridges
3 Buzzards
47 Meadow Pipits - mostly over south but some had been roosting on the moss.
4 Chaffinches - over south.
2 Kestrels
3 Mallards - 2f,1m
4 Reed Buntings
19 Linnets
1 Grey Wagtail - over south.
4 Pied Wagtail - over south.
2 Jays
4 Yellowhammers
1 Willow Warbler
22 Skylarks - mostly over south.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

More of a wander this morning than a concerted bird count. With a substantial southerly wind blowing there wasn't much knocking around in the trees and bushes. That said, there was still a reasonable number of birds moving about. A small trickle of Meadow Pipits moved through with slightly higher numbers of Skylarks. No more than about 25 though. Probably the most notable migrants this morning were two Golden Plover that flew through eastwards.

Amongst the usual species, large numbers of mixed Corvids were present as well as Woodpigeons too. Starling numbers are also on the rise with small flocks of upto 40 birds knocking around.

Other birds noted:-

1 Willow Tit
1 Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
5 Long Tailed Tits
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Buzzard
3 Pied Wagtails
4 Jays

Nice semi social / semi birding day today on the moss and surrounds.

Booked a meal in the travellers early evening but before went on a couple hour walk with my girlfriend. Over the moss and public footpaths to Kenyon Hall Cafe then across and Barrow lane and back across moss to Travellers. Mid afternoon tends to be quiet and so it was but few flocks of linnets, scores of meadow pipits flocking up and a few late swallows.

Come out of the cafe and had a walk over to the what I presume was a husband and wife falconer team. They were showing the birds and letting the public (mainly kids) handle them. The husband had a Lanner Falcon which was drawing all the attention but I went over to his wife who had a tawny owl never seen one so close up. It was a captive bred and ludicrously tame as you tickled its tummy, it lent down and nibbled your finger gently just like our old budgie used to do. The lady showed us its ears under its feathers on its head and they are astonishing probably not far short the size of its head under the feathers no wonder they can hear mice and voles from far away.

Then she noticed my bins and said did you see the Peregrines just now? Story of my life I was looking at the craft fair and above my head two wild Peregrines having a dog fight. Typical !

After last Sunday's decent migration show I'd been dying to get back out on the moss again but this weeks deluge had put paid to that. So, with high hopes I ventured out this morning at 6.30 for one of my usual mooches around before going to work. As the dawn is now getting later and later I reckon this will probably be the last mid week early morning walk I can manage before work.

Very quiet to start due to the sun not yet being up but things started picking up at first light with the odd Meadow Pipit over. I decided to walk around anti clockwise this morning as the trees that border the airstrip often hold quite a few birds and as this will be towards the end of my walk then the sun will be on them and the birds more active. This proved to be a good decision!

Most of the usual species were recorded on the way around but when I reached the far end of the airstrip I stopped to watch a Warbler in a bush in front of me. Just while I was taking a few photos of what turned out to be a Willow Warbler I noticed a large raptor gliding southwards across the moss out in front of me at a distance of about 150 yards. The bird was being harried by a Crow but wasn't too bothered by it. Anyway, it took me all of about a second to ID it as a Red Kite. Brilliant!!

Needless to say, I fired off a load of shots and ended up with some quite reasonable record shots of it. It wasn't until I checked the shots that I also noticed it was carrying prey. By the looks of it a Rat or large Mouse. A quick text to Ian about the find and I carried on home with a bloody great grin on my face.

Other notable bird movements down there this morning were large numbers of Pink Footed Geese moving through and also Skylarks. I would have loved to have been able to hang around longer just to see what else appeared.

This mornings totals were:

9 Mallards
8 Teal
1 Jay
6 Reed Buntings
5 Pied Wagtails - over southwards.
22 Meadow Pipits - over southwards.
3 Snipe
4 Greenfinches
9 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Tit
1 Chaffinch
1 Red Kite - photos now on my flickr.
3 Willow Warblers
51 Skylarks - over southwards.
3 House Martins - over northwards?
3 Long Tailed Tits
450 Pink Footed Geese - 100,20,70,70,70,70,50.





-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Thursday 27th of September 2012 04:30:46 PM

Brilliant few hours on the moss this morning from 6.30 till 9.15. A bright but cold and crisp morning with plenty of birds moving through.

113 Meadow Pipits - all through southwards mostly between 7.00 and 8.00am.
4 Mallards
5 Teals
2 Buzzards
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Willow Tits
13 Linnets - passing through.
4 Jays - also found the remains of one from a probable Sparrowhawk kill.
30 Swallows - through southwards.
7 Pied Wagtails - through southwards.
12 Reed Buntings
7 Yellowhammers
2 Lesser Redpolls - through southwards.
3 Snipe - through west.
8 Chaffinch - 5 through east.
2 Goldcrests
1 Grey Wagtail - through west.
10 Goldfinches
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Hobby - through south and being harried by two Crows.
1 Greenfinch
19 Skylarks - through southwards.
c45 Pink Footed Geese - over North West.

An early morning mooch around the moss today from 6.30 - 8.00am in bright and fresh conditions.

Large numbers of Corvids, Woodpigeons and Lesser Black backed gulls around in the fields but bird numbers on the moss itself seemed a little down than of late.

1 Buzzard
38 Meadow Pipits - over in ones and twos heading south.
11 Linnets
13 Chaffinches - mostly over south.
2 Mallard - near the pond.
13 Reed Buntings
3 Jays
1 Willow Tit
3 Yellowhammers
1 Grey Wagtail - over south.
1 Chiffchaff
1 Moorhen
2 Swallows - through south.

Also a possible tick of David Bowman. Seen from a distance as he mooched around the pond at about 7.00am.

A good push of migration this morning on the moss from 6.15am. Mostly Meadow Pipits with 74 birds passing over southwards in just over an hour. They were still passing through when I left.

4 Yellowhammers
1 Whitethroat
74 Meadow Pipits - over southwards in groups of up to six at a time.
10 Reed Buntings
2 Willow Tits - probably same two birds from previous visit.
5 Mallards - on flood in adjacent field.
2 Swallows - over southwards.
2 Chiffchaffs
9 Greenfinches - over southwards.
1 Chaffinch
1 Grey Wagtail - only just realised this is a new patch tick despite seeing one in my last visit too.
10 Grey Partridges
4 Jays

A bit of activity this morning from 6.30 - 9.00 with some visible migration going on too.

11 Grey Partridge - (5,6)
23 Mallard - 7 over south and 15 on flood in adjacent field.
1 Buzzard
5 Whitethroats
7 Greenfinches - all juveniles.
1 Kestrel
15 Reed Buntings - mostly juveniles.
2 Goldfinch - over south.
2 Jays
1 Snipe - On flood in field but then flew off north.
1 Treecreeper
22 Meadow Pipits - passing over southwards in ones and twos.
2 Chiffchaff - juveniles.
3 Long Tailed Tits - with other tits in small flock.
8 Linnets
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Chaffinches - 3 over south.
17 Yellowhammers - Mostly juveniles.
10 Canada Geese - over south.
5 Swallows - over south.

A mini fall of Chiffchaffs on the moss this morning with at least 5 different birds encountered.

Other birds encountered in the dull and drizzly conditions were:

1 Buzzard
23 Mallard - on flood in adjacent field.
8 Linnets
4 Goldfinch
1 Whitethroat
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Willow Warbler
1 Jay
1 Fox

Plus the usuals.

Really quiet this morning from 6.00 till 9.00am. Almost as if most of the birds down there had cleared out.

1 Kestrel
5 Yellow Wagtail - over south.
2 Mallard - over south.
19 Linnet
1 Reed Bunting
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Willow Warbler
1 Grey Partridge
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Snipe - over west.
1 Whitethroat
7 Goldfinch
3 Greenfinch
1 Sparrowhawk - female.
20 Swallows - over south in drubs and drabs.

A little bit of visible migration going on this morning after the early morning mist cleared. Quite a few flocks of Woodpigeon passing through mostly northwards including one flock of at least 80. Also a flock of 34 ducks that appeared to be Mallards from the jizz but I couldn't be certain due to the light. I've never seen Mallard in such numbers in flight before.

Other birds were:
2 Goldfinches
6 Tree Sparrows
3 Whitethroats
21 Linnets
10 Yellowhammers
5 Yellow Wagtails - all juveniles.
3 Grey Partridges
6 Mallard over SE plus the other possible 34.
3 Chaffinches
5 Snipe - over E.
8 Willow Warblers.
1 Sparrowhawk - female.
7 Reed Buntings
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Greenfinch
c30 Starlings

The biggest surprise of the morning though was a Mink that ran across Heath Lane right in front of me only to re-emerge a few seconds later and disappear down a road gulley. It then poked its head through the grating to look at me and diving back into the gully pot when I got within five yards of it. Very surprised to see one given that there's no water nearby.

Cracking spot there Pete. Any photos?

Another early morning outing today in lovely bright conditions.

Highlight of the morning was 8 juvenile Yellow Wagtails feeding in the crop field near the railway line. They constantly flit between the field and perching up on the fence to give very nice views. Just wish I'd had the camera with me.

c20 Starlings
2 Buzzards
6 Tree Sparrows
8 Yellowhammers
c25 Linnets
13 Goldfinches
16 Reed Buntings - mostly juveniles.
1 Corn Bunting
8 Willow Warblers
1 Mallard
1 Chaffinch
10 Yellow Wagtails - one group of 8 and another two over.
1 Whitethroat
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Pheasant
1 Sparrowhawk - female.
1 Blackcap - female.
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Treecreeper

Plus the usuals.

Out on the moss late afternoon and got a soaking for my trouble.

Near to the railway crossing a family party of Whitethroats (2 adults and 2 fledglings) which surprisingly had two Sedge Warblers associating with them. Not a bird you come across too often down here. Must be this years juveniles on the move.

5 Grey Partridge
2 Tree Sparrows

Plus all the usuals.

Another early morning saunter from 6.30 to 8.30. Fairly fresh conditions apart from a prolonged shower mid way through that I got caught in.

2 Corn Buntings - both singing males.
c40 Linnets - including one flock of around thirty that contained a few Goldfinch and Greenfinch too.
5 Reed Buntings
4 Whitethroats
7 Yellowhammers
9 Goldfinches
3 Chaffinches
9 Mallards
8 Willow Warblers
3 Greenfinches
2 Grey Partridges
2 Moorhens
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Kestrel
5 Meadow Pipits

Plus the usual Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds and large numbers of Woodpigeons.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 28th of July 2012 06:37:59 PM

I went for a look for the owl again last night but there were too many dog walkers and people rabbiting.

What time of the day did you see it Mick?

Don't think I haven't tried Dennis. I've done quite a few late ones down there in the last month. My conclusion was that it must a be a nocturnal bird and doesn't often come out in daylight.