Bird Walk 10th Sept and the last 2 days.

BIRD WALK

I was in early to look at the moths before the bird walk, we had our second ever Ni Moth and the first Sallow of the year.
12 of us set round the car park at 7am a feeding flock of birds managed to give everyone views of SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, BLACKCAP, NUTHATCH and a few also managed glimpses of TREECREEPER and BULLFINCH. By the time we left the car park we were on around 20 species. Walking to the lake and woods we added a SPARROWHAWK being chased by a Magpie and LINNETS were much in evidence as they had been all week. The lakes were quiet with just 6 MALLARD being seen and a flyover CORMORANT but species were gradually being ticked off, MISTLE THRUSH was my first for the month as was MARSH TIT, unfortunately the Marsh Tits were heard only. By the small pond in the wood a Southern Hawker was ovipositing and an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar was also there. There was a flurry of activity as we entered Park Field firstly a calling LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER, which did fly from the top of one oak to another giving just flight views, everybody was surprised just how small it was, whilst waiting for the woodpecker to show itself, a HOBBY flew low over our heads as a SISKIN called flying south!! There was also a good flock of tits which included LONG TAILED and a couple of CHIFFCHAFF. By breakfast (9.30ish) we had amassed 44 species.
After a break a few people departed and the rest of us set off round the fields one of the first birds we saw was the long staying WHINCHAT closely accompanied by the STONECHAT. The corvid flock was again around 100 birds and as we followed a few of them in flight 2 KESTRELS came into view with another Sparrowhawk, a MEADOW PIPIT came up out of the clover and REED BUNTING, YELLOWHAMMER and WHITETHROAT were all seen as the wind started to pick up. We were lucky when another or the same HOBBY flew right over our heads. The last bird on to the list was a BUZZARD which was quickly harassed by the corvids. The mornings total ended on 51 species, we missed Moorhen, Grey Heron and Skylark, all of which are seen most days.

Sunday 11th and Monday 12th

A quick walk yesterday with Bec in the early afternoon, gave me my first KINGFISHER of the month. Also yesterday HOBBY, 2 KESTRELS and SPARROWHAWK were all in attendance. A SAND MARTIN was with a few SWALLOWS and HOUSE MARTINS and another MEADOW PIPIT was seen.
This morning was a little wild but I thought I'd give it a go, the Corvid flock numbered over 250, I heard 2 CHIFFCHAFFS, a small stream of Hirundines contained another SAND MARTIN, the third MEADOW PIPIT in as many days also flew south. The only other birds of note were 4 HERRING GULLS north and 3 SKYLARKS that chased low over the stubble.