6th-14th October - Birds and Moths

After a morning of chores on Saturday (6th), we decided to drive to Sissinghurst Castle in the afternoon, usually it's a walk straight from the house but the back is not quite right yet. We got to the moat and over the field was a SPARROWHAWK being mobbed by about 4 crows, beyond the Sparrowhawk something else caught my eye, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS were circling high above as were many large gulls. Another bird caught my eye lower down, which turned out to be a LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, again a bird flew into view just behind the gull, a raptor just gliding south, luckily it turned and flapped once before carrying on it's way showing a yellowish head and shoulders MARSH HARRIER what a great  minute or two!!

Common Buzzard with company

I mananged to get out Sunday morning as well, SISKIN were evident with just small flocks being heard and seen in the one and half hour visit. More noticeable though were CHAFFINCHES flying north-west, maybe only 100 or so birds in total but in amongst them was the buzzing of a BRAMBLING (102) a welcome addition to the year list. Also a few REDPOLLS were heard and seen and s GREY WAGTAIL flew west. In the afternoon a look in the veg garden produced the MIGRANT HAWKERS below.

Migrant Hawker

Monday 8th started with a few moths which included a few year ticks RED LINED QUAKER, GREEN BRINDLED CRESCENT and BEADED CHESTNUT.

Green Brindled Crescent

Another Sunrise

While we did the moths on Tuesday, a small flock of 9 REDWINGS flew over followed by 2 FIELDFARE, it didn't stop there as Steve heard a Hawfinch, unfortunately I missed it, hopefully there will be another but this is a very tricky bird here or anywhere, come t that! On the moth front we had DARK CHESTNUT and the first NOVEMBER MOTH of the year and a couple of PINK BARRED SALLOWS.

Goldfinch

Blue Tit

Finally today I was out from 9am to 10.50am, again CHAFFINCHES were steadily flying north-west, the total for this morning was 251 birds in 20 flocks other birds all going the same way were 15 SWALLOW, 8 HOUSE MARTIN, 80 STARLINGS and small numbers of MEADOW PIPITS, SISKIN and REDPOLL. In the car park there was LITTLE OWL surrounded by 3 or 4 MAGPIES deep in the undergrowth, at least 6 JAYS were seen and I finally got some shots but too far away for a decent one! Other birds this morning included 3 BUZZARDS, 10 SKYLARKS, 15+ YELLOWHAMMERS, 2 REED BUNTINGS, 5 REDWING, 6 BULLFINCHES, 1 REDPOLL, 4 COMMON GULLS, 8 BLACK HEADED GULLS over 60 HERRING GULLS, 1 CHIFFCHAFF and a KESTREL. There was just one butterfly today a single RED ADMIRAL, overall a really enjoyable few days.

Distant Jay.... hopefully it can only get better!!

Robin