The regular volunteer afternoon brought in a species list of 35 which considering is good. With only light winds and inter sun birding was good. With the start of autumn things are starting to move. With SNIPE showing in flight and BEAREDED TITS and CETTI'S WARBLER. 3 STONECHAT on Share Marsh.
A regular drive through and awaiting me was a single PALE BREASTED BRENT GOOSE. He was being harassed by the CARRION CROWS, in fact there was 50 birds in the car park. I have never seen a brent in this area before and there was none out at sea. So must have just found it's way into the pools of water while being tired.
Links Hill; Regular call in and the largest count of Carrion Crow for me with 56 birds feeding from a car. Also WHITE WAG and a PIED as well. Four Brent geese deciding to return North.
PCF: Monday call in with BLACKCAP, SONG THRUSH, two BLACKBIRD and a single REDWING. A JAY flew through. But the best was what I have been waiting for over the years, a close encounter of the KINGFISHER type. In fact it sat only 4 meters in front of the hide. Pic' s below and there may be a vid to follow. https://youtu.be/Ukxwgki9X9c
Out on the marsh which means that 23 species altogether with the first SNIPE of the Autumn. But I was encouraged by a small flock of three SWALLOW. Feeding well they were very active. A flock of 35 TEAL flew up from the Octagon and about seven DUNLIN swooped on through.
Today.
Pathways Care Farm: Rather a miserable day with rain squalls coming through now and again. With the rain at least the pond has started to fill for the winter. With an Easterly blow anything can turn up and with that Autumn has brought in the duck. First WIGEON of the winter and an increases in GADWALL numbers with 23. Also full number of LITTLE GREBE at six. Did not catch sight of KINGFISHER but call distinctive enough. Also one Jay.
Links Hill: BRENT GEESE (Dark bellied) moving through. Count about 38 but again an increase in the CARRION CROW with 32. ROCK PIPIT two and TURNSTONE four. MEADPW PIPIT over as well. A single GANNET juvenal flew through.
Finding it increasingly difficult to keep up to date with sightings. But I am still getting out there and even today a single SWALLOW and found a HOODED CROW in the middle of nowhere. But following a reasonable few weeks in the area it has all calmed down. Last Monday had a a WHEATEAR fly through the garden. At Carlton on Wednesday had a juvenile GOLDEN PLOVER and a very late SPECKELED WOOD. A few weeks before in fact on September 4th I caught sight of a PURPLE HERON so still on the ball. There has been last Wednesday a movement of MEADOW PIPIT through as well.
Still getting out there with the birding but increasingly more difficult, who cares anyway.
Breydon on South Shore produced many Curlew and 47 SPOON BILL. Also an obliging COMMON SAND as well as both GODWIT, DUNLIN, KNOT, REDSHANK, AVOCET, GREENSHANK,MED GULL, SHELLDUCK, WHIMBRAL
August 2nd had a RED KITE over Corton Sewage Works
From my home a regular viewing of PERIGRINE, SPARROWHAWK. With regular visits to Pathways and Carlton Marsh.
