No you haven't slept through autumn and woke up in winter! The title refers to the fact that I put the first seed out at my feeding station on Rawcliffe Moss today. I don't intend to start any ringing at the feeding station until the end of October, but it takes a couple of months for the birds to find the food and for the flock to build up.
Peanuts and Seed
After I had put the food out I had a walk round the Moss but it was quiet. A number of Swallows, 223 to be precise, were feeding over of the wheat and barley. This anticyclonic weather that we have at the moment tends to build Swallow numbers up. A few butterflies were on the wing including numbers of Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock and Speckled Wood.
Peacock
Red Admiral
Small Tortoiseshell
Walking through the plantation I was struggling to find any birds and all I could 'notch up' were 2 Willow Warblers, Blackcap and 7 Long-tailed Tits. Walking back along the track a Buzzard soared over head and 6 Curlews headed west. Back towards the car I flushed a Great Spotted Woodpecker from a tree and that was it!
Afternoon 'arable' Sunshine
Ringing at the 'obs' tomorrow, so hopefully that will be better.
2 comments:
I've done exactly the same today Seumus! Although it took me a while to find my old feeding station setup (at Shakerley) due to the growth of the vegitation! But cut back a little & feeders went up & seed down on the ground!!
It's both an exciting and depressing feeling I think. Exciting because you are thinking about all the birds you are going to potentially catch and dpressing because it means winter is approaching!
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