I've been busy writing reports all this week, aren't I always!, and all I've had time to do is top up my feeding station. I called yesterday and it was my intention to treat myself to an hour off and have a walk round but heavy rain came in just after I had put some seed down. What was encouraging was the fact that 23 Tree Sparrows were at the feeding station. So hopefully their numbers will quickly build up.
I'm hoping to get out for a couple of hours tomorrow morning, so more then!
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Lull After The Thrush Storm
I didn't think that Thrush lightning could strike three times, never mind twice, but in the pre-dawn darkness there seemed to be good numbers of Redwings on the move based on the number of calls I could hear. As dawn broke at the Obs I could see that there were a few Redwings grounded/exiting temporary roosts, but certainly not on the move. In total all I had were 27 Redwings, a fraction of the birds that have been moving through over the past couple of days.
I had full cloud cover this morning with a 20 mph NE wind that had a touch more easterly in it, but perhaps not as much as an ENE. I think I could be splitting hairs there! It was fairly clear to the north with good views across the bay to the Lakes and out to the east I could make out Bowland but it was murky.
There was some 'vis' this morning but it was incredibly light and was restricted to seven Alba Wags, seven Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting, a Rock Pipit, three Carrion Crows, 15 Linnets and nine Greenfinches.Grounded migrants were even thinner on the ground with just two Wheatears and nothing else. Raptors were limited to a single Kestrel and only 60 Pink-footed Geese dropped into the fields to feed.
I have a latish night tonight as I'm off to see Deep Purple, but I will make the effort and get out in the morning even though the forecast is giving more of the grey stuff with a moderate northeasterly wind. Mind you it is October and you just never know!
I had full cloud cover this morning with a 20 mph NE wind that had a touch more easterly in it, but perhaps not as much as an ENE. I think I could be splitting hairs there! It was fairly clear to the north with good views across the bay to the Lakes and out to the east I could make out Bowland but it was murky.
There was some 'vis' this morning but it was incredibly light and was restricted to seven Alba Wags, seven Meadow Pipits, a Reed Bunting, a Rock Pipit, three Carrion Crows, 15 Linnets and nine Greenfinches.Grounded migrants were even thinner on the ground with just two Wheatears and nothing else. Raptors were limited to a single Kestrel and only 60 Pink-footed Geese dropped into the fields to feed.
One of the two Wheatears this morning
I have a latish night tonight as I'm off to see Deep Purple, but I will make the effort and get out in the morning even though the forecast is giving more of the grey stuff with a moderate northeasterly wind. Mind you it is October and you just never know!
Friday, 11 October 2013
Thrushes
I missed the spectacular arrival of Redwings yesterday, not because I was working, but because I was out scouring the north of England for birthday presents for Gail's birthday next week! Interestingly I was outdoors in places like Orton, Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria but didn't hear a single Thrush. There were some impressive movements yesterday and I know Ian had about 7,000 go through over the Obs.
This morning I decided to allow myself an hour and a half or so before hitting my desk and spending the rest of the day report writing. As the wind was quite strong and from the northeast I decided to have a look at the estuary and the areas of scrub around the old railway line as I knew it would be sheltered there and there would be the chance of some feeding Thrushes left over from yesterday.
As I walked along the path through the Hawthorns I could hear Redwings calling and as I got the near reservoir where it was more open I could see birds heading NNE in to wind. Not huge numbers but I did have 110 Redwings and two Song Thrushes.
I walked across the saltmarsh to have a look on the estuary and count any wildfowl. The tide was fairly high as it was only a couple of hours past high tide and it was just starting to drop. On the estuary were 1,297 Pink-footed Geese, 112 Wigeons, twelve Whooper Swans and 58 Teal. Walking back across the salt marsh I put three Rock Pipits up and single figure groups of Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches headed south.
I had a look on the reservoir and there was a decent number of Little Grebes totalling 15 with twelve Coots and seven Tufted Ducks. Heading back towards the railway line I had a Chiffchaff calling and giving some bursts of sub-song and I also heard a Brambling, my first of the Autumn.
I bumped in to Ian who was trying to catch and ring some of the Redwings and he had just caught one so I ringed that. It was then time to head home and glue myself to my desk.
Back at home (I live just over a km from the coast as the Fieldfare flies) I was taking my boots off at the back of my car when I heard some Redwing and Fieldfare calls and a number were heading north. Instead of going straight to my desk I spent about half an hour in my garden counting Thrushes and I had 215 Redwings and 70 Fieldfares head mainly north, although some did head west. A quick text from Ian late morning said that Thrushes were still 'pouring' N-NE. It's unusual to have two 'big days' of Thrush movement, but looking at the forecast with the winds from the northeast we could have a few more days of arrivals. I'll be sure to be out in the morning looking!
This morning I decided to allow myself an hour and a half or so before hitting my desk and spending the rest of the day report writing. As the wind was quite strong and from the northeast I decided to have a look at the estuary and the areas of scrub around the old railway line as I knew it would be sheltered there and there would be the chance of some feeding Thrushes left over from yesterday.
As I walked along the path through the Hawthorns I could hear Redwings calling and as I got the near reservoir where it was more open I could see birds heading NNE in to wind. Not huge numbers but I did have 110 Redwings and two Song Thrushes.
I walked across the saltmarsh to have a look on the estuary and count any wildfowl. The tide was fairly high as it was only a couple of hours past high tide and it was just starting to drop. On the estuary were 1,297 Pink-footed Geese, 112 Wigeons, twelve Whooper Swans and 58 Teal. Walking back across the salt marsh I put three Rock Pipits up and single figure groups of Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches headed south.
Pink-footed Geese
Whooper Swans
I had a look on the reservoir and there was a decent number of Little Grebes totalling 15 with twelve Coots and seven Tufted Ducks. Heading back towards the railway line I had a Chiffchaff calling and giving some bursts of sub-song and I also heard a Brambling, my first of the Autumn.
I bumped in to Ian who was trying to catch and ring some of the Redwings and he had just caught one so I ringed that. It was then time to head home and glue myself to my desk.
Redwing
Back at home (I live just over a km from the coast as the Fieldfare flies) I was taking my boots off at the back of my car when I heard some Redwing and Fieldfare calls and a number were heading north. Instead of going straight to my desk I spent about half an hour in my garden counting Thrushes and I had 215 Redwings and 70 Fieldfares head mainly north, although some did head west. A quick text from Ian late morning said that Thrushes were still 'pouring' N-NE. It's unusual to have two 'big days' of Thrush movement, but looking at the forecast with the winds from the northeast we could have a few more days of arrivals. I'll be sure to be out in the morning looking!
September Ringing Totals
The ringing totals for Fylde Ringing Group for September were pretty poor with just 85 birds of 16 species ringed all month. The problem has been the wind; strong westerlies early on and then strong easterlies later on. For what it's worth I have updated the totals over on the right.
We only ringed three species in double figures so all I have done below is a top three ringed for the month!
1. Robin - 11
2. Blue Tit - 10
3. Greenfinch - 10
I have as usual produced a top ten 'movers and shakers' but there has been little change as you will see beneath.
1. Swallow - 761 (same position)
2. Goldfinch - 134 (same position)
3. Willow Warbler - 132 (same position)
4. Chaffinch - 127 (same position)
5. Reed Warbler - 108 (same position)
6. Great Tit - 105 (up from 7th)
7. Sedge Warbler - 100 (down from 6th)
Blue Tit - 100 (up from 8th)
9. Whitethroat - 88 (same position)
10. Lesser Redpoll - 79 (same position)
Normally at this time of the year I would expect to see Meadow Pipit well into the top ten. They've been moving but unfortunately it hasn't been calm enough for mist nets that often.
October hasn't started too well either, but more of that at the end of the month.
We only ringed three species in double figures so all I have done below is a top three ringed for the month!
1. Robin - 11
2. Blue Tit - 10
3. Greenfinch - 10
I have as usual produced a top ten 'movers and shakers' but there has been little change as you will see beneath.
1. Swallow - 761 (same position)
2. Goldfinch - 134 (same position)
3. Willow Warbler - 132 (same position)
4. Chaffinch - 127 (same position)
5. Reed Warbler - 108 (same position)
6. Great Tit - 105 (up from 7th)
7. Sedge Warbler - 100 (down from 6th)
Blue Tit - 100 (up from 8th)
9. Whitethroat - 88 (same position)
10. Lesser Redpoll - 79 (same position)
Normally at this time of the year I would expect to see Meadow Pipit well into the top ten. They've been moving but unfortunately it hasn't been calm enough for mist nets that often.
October hasn't started too well either, but more of that at the end of the month.
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Reed Bunts On The Move
I was back at the Obs this morning and it was calm enough for ringing, but based on last night's forecast I hadn't bothered getting any gear ready! I had virtually clear skies this morning with a light southwesterly wind. The visibility was nowhere near as good as yesterday and the views this morning weren't of Lakeland and Welsh mountains, but of murk and grey clouds!
I couldn't detect any grounded migrants this morning, or nothing obvious at least, except perhaps for a few more Dunnocks. Robin, Wren and Blackbird numbers seemed similar to yesterday. There was some vis this morning but that virtually stopped by 9:15 am when the cloud cover to the north thickened. However one noticeable feature of the vis this morning compared to yesterday was a few more Reed Buntings on the move. My vis totals were six Chaffinches, 41 Jackdaws, 103 Meadow Pipits, thirteen Alba Wags, a Grey Wagtail, nine Reed Buntings, a Carrion Crow, four Goldfinches, nine Greenfinches, eight Linnets, 640 Pink-footed Geese, five Skylarks and a Rock Pipit.
Walking through the dunes near the Japanese Rose patch I had a nice mixed flock of three Reed Bunts, eight Mipits, a Chaffinch and seven Greenfinches all perched on the fence. Shortly after they dropped in they lifted up in to the sky and headed off south. Migration in action!
On the sea I had six Auk sp., five Cormorants, a Red-throated Diver, eight Sandwich Terns, 16 Common Scoters and a Guillemot. I usually have a few Kestrels around the Obs, but not this morning, a male Sparrowhawk was flying the raptor flag instead.
Back home a check of my moth trap produced two Angle Shades, a Silver Y and a Red-line Quaker. Unfortunately I won't be out birding tomorrow as I have some work to catch up on but I will be running my moth trap so I will blog briefly if I catch anything in that.
Small Tortoiseshell
I couldn't detect any grounded migrants this morning, or nothing obvious at least, except perhaps for a few more Dunnocks. Robin, Wren and Blackbird numbers seemed similar to yesterday. There was some vis this morning but that virtually stopped by 9:15 am when the cloud cover to the north thickened. However one noticeable feature of the vis this morning compared to yesterday was a few more Reed Buntings on the move. My vis totals were six Chaffinches, 41 Jackdaws, 103 Meadow Pipits, thirteen Alba Wags, a Grey Wagtail, nine Reed Buntings, a Carrion Crow, four Goldfinches, nine Greenfinches, eight Linnets, 640 Pink-footed Geese, five Skylarks and a Rock Pipit.
Chaffinch
Walking through the dunes near the Japanese Rose patch I had a nice mixed flock of three Reed Bunts, eight Mipits, a Chaffinch and seven Greenfinches all perched on the fence. Shortly after they dropped in they lifted up in to the sky and headed off south. Migration in action!
Greenfinch
Meadow Pipit
Reed Bunting
On the sea I had six Auk sp., five Cormorants, a Red-throated Diver, eight Sandwich Terns, 16 Common Scoters and a Guillemot. I usually have a few Kestrels around the Obs, but not this morning, a male Sparrowhawk was flying the raptor flag instead.
Woodpigeon
Back home a check of my moth trap produced two Angle Shades, a Silver Y and a Red-line Quaker. Unfortunately I won't be out birding tomorrow as I have some work to catch up on but I will be running my moth trap so I will blog briefly if I catch anything in that.
Angle Shades
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Confusing Vis
It was crystal clear this morning and the view from the southern part of the Obs recording area was panoramic to say the least. Standing on my seawatching/vis observation spot and looking east I could see the Bowland Fells, Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales and then moving north the Lakeland Fells,out west the Isle of Man and then to the southwest Anglesey and Snowdonia; stunning! Perfect for visible migration you might think, but no the vis this morning wasn't what the conditions would perhaps dictate and was a touch light.
At first light I had two oktas cloud cover with a 10-15 mph westerly wind. I couldn't detect any grounded migrants this morning other than perhaps the eleven Robins I counted on my walk round. There was some vis but as I have already stated it was confusingly light. I counted six Alba Wagtails, 17 Linnets, 52 Meadow Pipits, 21 Skylarks, a Grey Wagtail, a Snipe and a Chaffinch. Interestingly all the Skylarks were heading in to the wind and ultimately out to sea and then turning round and heading back to dry land!
I had a brief look on the sea and recorded 25 Cormorants, 16 Common Scoters, 16 Pintails, a Gannet, twelve Auk sp., four Eiders, a Sandwich Tern, three Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill and a Shelduck.
Back home I checked the moth trap and I had two Silver Ys and a Blair's Shoulder-knot. The forecast is looking very similar for tomorrow with cloudy skies and a stiff southwesterly breeze/wind. More birding for me and I'll be sure to let you know how I get on.
The number of turbines seems to be increasing
At first light I had two oktas cloud cover with a 10-15 mph westerly wind. I couldn't detect any grounded migrants this morning other than perhaps the eleven Robins I counted on my walk round. There was some vis but as I have already stated it was confusingly light. I counted six Alba Wagtails, 17 Linnets, 52 Meadow Pipits, 21 Skylarks, a Grey Wagtail, a Snipe and a Chaffinch. Interestingly all the Skylarks were heading in to the wind and ultimately out to sea and then turning round and heading back to dry land!
Meadow Pipit
I had a brief look on the sea and recorded 25 Cormorants, 16 Common Scoters, 16 Pintails, a Gannet, twelve Auk sp., four Eiders, a Sandwich Tern, three Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill and a Shelduck.
Back home I checked the moth trap and I had two Silver Ys and a Blair's Shoulder-knot. The forecast is looking very similar for tomorrow with cloudy skies and a stiff southwesterly breeze/wind. More birding for me and I'll be sure to let you know how I get on.
Silver Y
Friday, 4 October 2013
Back On The Moss
I paid my first visit to the Moss this morning since checking my Tree Sparrow boxes in May to set up the feeding station in preparation for the winter. A drop of seed was made on the track and I put up my two large peanut feeders as supplementary food in case the seed runs out before my next visit. I will check again in a weeks time to see if anything has found the seed and adjust the frequency of my visits based on the demand for the food.
Over to the west of where I park at the end of the track a number of Pink-footed Geese were feeding in a stubble field. Birds were constantly coming and going and were difficult to count due to the hedge between me and them. My notebook records 1,477, but I suspect there could easily have been twice as many as this.
Even though it was just before lunchtime and I was inland, a few birds were going over on vis. I only paid a brief visit to the Moss so all I had going over were 25 Meadow Pipits, two Snipe, two Alba Wags and a Chaffinch.
At the end of the track I trubed left and walked north along the '97 hedge' alongside the 'big field'. In the distance I could see that something had spooked the Lapwings from the 'top fields' as at least 700 birds lifted in to the air. A number of Skylarks got up from the field totalling 39 and I also put up a couple of Snipe. As I walked along the hedge a party of thirteen Long-tailed Tits moved through and then I came across a flock of at least 26 Tree Sparows. I wonder how long it will take them to find the food at the feeding station; not long I suspect!
A flock of seven Linnets over the stubbles was added and then it was time to turn back, pick up my seed bucket and head home. The forecast for tomorrow is for 10-15 mph westerly winds with decreasing cloud cover as a ridge of high pressures nudges in. It will be a shade too breezy for ringing at the obs tomorrow as my net rides are right on the coast, but it does look good for some vis. I'll let you know how I get on.
The first seed drop.
Over to the west of where I park at the end of the track a number of Pink-footed Geese were feeding in a stubble field. Birds were constantly coming and going and were difficult to count due to the hedge between me and them. My notebook records 1,477, but I suspect there could easily have been twice as many as this.
'Pinkies' coming and going.
Even though it was just before lunchtime and I was inland, a few birds were going over on vis. I only paid a brief visit to the Moss so all I had going over were 25 Meadow Pipits, two Snipe, two Alba Wags and a Chaffinch.
At the end of the track I trubed left and walked north along the '97 hedge' alongside the 'big field'. In the distance I could see that something had spooked the Lapwings from the 'top fields' as at least 700 birds lifted in to the air. A number of Skylarks got up from the field totalling 39 and I also put up a couple of Snipe. As I walked along the hedge a party of thirteen Long-tailed Tits moved through and then I came across a flock of at least 26 Tree Sparows. I wonder how long it will take them to find the food at the feeding station; not long I suspect!
Lapwings - honest!
Skylark habitat, aka 'The Big Field'.
Long-tailed Tit
A flock of seven Linnets over the stubbles was added and then it was time to turn back, pick up my seed bucket and head home. The forecast for tomorrow is for 10-15 mph westerly winds with decreasing cloud cover as a ridge of high pressures nudges in. It will be a shade too breezy for ringing at the obs tomorrow as my net rides are right on the coast, but it does look good for some vis. I'll let you know how I get on.
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