A busy day with little time for obs.
Willey; There was 25 Swallows sitting on the wires this morning as the mist cleared. A Sparrowhawk flew over the fields just east of the village. Good numbers of Speckled Wood are still flying around the hedges and thickets.
Saturday, 2 September 2017
Friday, 1 September 2017
Autumn dawns 1st Sept - mostly sunny 19C, light W
Willey; well only 14 Swallows were on the wires this morning, with odd ones flying around, suggesting that more left on migration since yesterday mornings count.
Stanford reservoir; another try to see the Whinchat, again no sighting. A Common Sandpiper flew passed, a couple of Little Egret where on the islands again. Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers were numerous, with Blackcaps, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat also seen. Otherwise things are much as expected, there's an expectation the migration will turn up something unusual in the next few weeks, as well as more returning winter visitors.
Stanford reservoir; another try to see the Whinchat, again no sighting. A Common Sandpiper flew passed, a couple of Little Egret where on the islands again. Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers were numerous, with Blackcaps, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat also seen. Otherwise things are much as expected, there's an expectation the migration will turn up something unusual in the next few weeks, as well as more returning winter visitors.
Thursday, 31 August 2017
31st Aug - sunny until late afternoon, then showers/thunder, 19C, 14C in rain
Willey; this morning only 30 Swallows on the wires, suggesting some may have left in the last couple of days.
Stanford reservoir; late morning hris found 2 Whinchat on the field adjacent to the reservoir, so after lunch I headed off to see them. However, after much searching I still failed to find them, however Chris managed some good digiscoped photos.
A good number of both Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were roaming the bushes along with Tits and Goldcrest. Whitethroat and Blackcap were also heard. A few Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the water. A single Black-tailed Godwit was present feeding near the Lapwings which were resting on the islands. A couple of Little Egret and Grey heron were on the islands too.
Stanford reservoir; late morning hris found 2 Whinchat on the field adjacent to the reservoir, so after lunch I headed off to see them. However, after much searching I still failed to find them, however Chris managed some good digiscoped photos.
Photos Chris Hubbard
A good number of both Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were roaming the bushes along with Tits and Goldcrest. Whitethroat and Blackcap were also heard. A few Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the water. A single Black-tailed Godwit was present feeding near the Lapwings which were resting on the islands. A couple of Little Egret and Grey heron were on the islands too.
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
30th Aug - rain am, brighter pm, some showers, 18C
Willey; rain prevented getting any morning Swallow count today, other than some were flying around in the dry spell later.
A couple of things from yesterday, this moth was flying in the church yard grass and the fungus was growing in an Oat stubble field.
Shawell Lagoons; made an evening visit here, the evening are getting very much shorter now, by 2030h the light had faded. A Common and Green Sandpiper were on the shore area, with 26 Lapwings resting. A number of Pied Wagtails were also running around, slowly the number increased from 4 to 20, I suspect they have a pre-roost gather here. About 10 Swallows and 5 Sand martins fed over the pools. A couple of Little Grebe with Tufted Duck and Coot were on the south pool. Two Bullfinch were calling from the thicket and several Goldfinch were in the tree tops.
A couple of things from yesterday, this moth was flying in the church yard grass and the fungus was growing in an Oat stubble field.
Shawell Lagoons; made an evening visit here, the evening are getting very much shorter now, by 2030h the light had faded. A Common and Green Sandpiper were on the shore area, with 26 Lapwings resting. A number of Pied Wagtails were also running around, slowly the number increased from 4 to 20, I suspect they have a pre-roost gather here. About 10 Swallows and 5 Sand martins fed over the pools. A couple of Little Grebe with Tufted Duck and Coot were on the south pool. Two Bullfinch were calling from the thicket and several Goldfinch were in the tree tops.
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
29th Aug - cloudy, dull at times, light breeze NW, 18C
Willey; about 50 Swallows were over the village first thing today.
Stanford reservoir; I made an evening visit here, it was rather dull and not a lot of activity from the passerines. The highlights included a Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit near the islands, at least 30 Teal were busy feeding, along with Shoveler and Gadwall. Two Little Egret and 2 grey heron were present feeding and preening.
Stanford reservoir; I made an evening visit here, it was rather dull and not a lot of activity from the passerines. The highlights included a Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit near the islands, at least 30 Teal were busy feeding, along with Shoveler and Gadwall. Two Little Egret and 2 grey heron were present feeding and preening.
A Green Woodpecker was about, 4 Bullfinch flew over to the bushes and a Tawny Owl called from the adjacent wood at 1850h.
Monday, 28 August 2017
28th Aug - sunny and very warm, 25C, light SW
Willey; this morning there may have been a few less Swallows around than yesterday. I checked one nest in our shed, they have very young chicks and will be at least another 3 weeks to fledge, by then very few others will still be here.
During the afternoon I had a walk around the fileds and wood to the east of the village, Nuthatch and Treecreeper were calling, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest were present. Two spotted Flycatchers were in the wood and along its edge. A couple of Stock Doves flew off, while a Grey Heron headed for the top pond. The slightly raised callers of Swallows made me scan the sky to see a Hobby drifting overhead southward, clearly not hunting and the Swallows knew this.
A Grey Squirrel jumped out of the hedge and paused, its check pouches were stuff full of food it will be hording for the winter. If you look around closely signs of autumn are showing, with leaves beginning to change colour and some even dropping. The morning dew is now quite heavy, a sure sign of a change.
Cotesbach Sandy Land and Landfill area; I had a look here as occasionally Redstarts have been found here, and with another netted at Stanford reservoir nearby early morning, I thought there may be a chance. I did not find one but seeing Red Kite, a Buzzard family, 4 Ravens, Green Woodpecker and other common species was good anyway.
Shawell Lagoons; I next looked here, a Common Sandpiper was on the shore, 65 Lapwing were roosting too and a single Little Grebe was present. Otherwise the expected other species were seen.
During the afternoon I had a walk around the fileds and wood to the east of the village, Nuthatch and Treecreeper were calling, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest were present. Two spotted Flycatchers were in the wood and along its edge. A couple of Stock Doves flew off, while a Grey Heron headed for the top pond. The slightly raised callers of Swallows made me scan the sky to see a Hobby drifting overhead southward, clearly not hunting and the Swallows knew this.
A Grey Squirrel jumped out of the hedge and paused, its check pouches were stuff full of food it will be hording for the winter. If you look around closely signs of autumn are showing, with leaves beginning to change colour and some even dropping. The morning dew is now quite heavy, a sure sign of a change.
Cotesbach Sandy Land and Landfill area; I had a look here as occasionally Redstarts have been found here, and with another netted at Stanford reservoir nearby early morning, I thought there may be a chance. I did not find one but seeing Red Kite, a Buzzard family, 4 Ravens, Green Woodpecker and other common species was good anyway.
Shawell Lagoons; I next looked here, a Common Sandpiper was on the shore, 65 Lapwing were roosting too and a single Little Grebe was present. Otherwise the expected other species were seen.
Sunday, 27 August 2017
27th Aug - a brilliant sunny warm day, 25C, light breeze S
At last a spell of proper summer following a poor July and August.
Willey; there were c60Swallows and c5 House Martins on the telegraph wires first thing. Two Cormorant flew over high eastward and a Great spotted Woodpecker called in the BH wood. Around 1000h 4 Linnets were high in the top of the church yard Horse Chestnut making some noise and a Starling sat on the telegraph post top singing away loudly.
At 1700h a single Yellow Wagtail flew over calling, eastward, maybe finally some with the cattle tomorrow. Checking the paddock at 1800h produced at least 4 Spotted Flycatchers busy feeding from the bush and the tops.
Mere Lane Lake; mid morning I had a look here. A Sparrow hawk dashed by sending the small birds to cover. After awhile things began to show, Bullfinch, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tits to name a few. In the.reeds I spotted a Reed Warblers carrying food to young in a nest still, when it turned round I could see it was colour ringed, so hopefully we'll get this ringing information soon. Next to it were 2 Sedge Warblers, these too may have had a nest. Little Grebes, Coot and the Mute Swan pair with 2 large cygnets weee on the water.
Speckled Wood, Large Whites and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were seen, plus several Dragonflies including Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darter. AMuntjac deer called loudly from the thicket area.
Eyebrooke reservoir; I had a look here after lunch, the highlights included 3 Buzzard, Red Kite and an Osprey with a caught fish. Waders included 2 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 1 Green. Sandpiper and many Lapwing. On the adjacent hedge and rough area were 3 Whinchats feeding. A single Common Tern sat on a post over the water and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the muddy shore. Few passerines, c15 Starlings, Linnets, Goldfinches and a single Whitethroat. The usual duck species were present too.
Willey; there were c60Swallows and c5 House Martins on the telegraph wires first thing. Two Cormorant flew over high eastward and a Great spotted Woodpecker called in the BH wood. Around 1000h 4 Linnets were high in the top of the church yard Horse Chestnut making some noise and a Starling sat on the telegraph post top singing away loudly.
At 1700h a single Yellow Wagtail flew over calling, eastward, maybe finally some with the cattle tomorrow. Checking the paddock at 1800h produced at least 4 Spotted Flycatchers busy feeding from the bush and the tops.
Mere Lane Lake; mid morning I had a look here. A Sparrow hawk dashed by sending the small birds to cover. After awhile things began to show, Bullfinch, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tits to name a few. In the.reeds I spotted a Reed Warblers carrying food to young in a nest still, when it turned round I could see it was colour ringed, so hopefully we'll get this ringing information soon. Next to it were 2 Sedge Warblers, these too may have had a nest. Little Grebes, Coot and the Mute Swan pair with 2 large cygnets weee on the water.
Speckled Wood, Large Whites and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were seen, plus several Dragonflies including Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darter. AMuntjac deer called loudly from the thicket area.
Eyebrooke reservoir; I had a look here after lunch, the highlights included 3 Buzzard, Red Kite and an Osprey with a caught fish. Waders included 2 Ruff, 3 Greenshank, 1 Green. Sandpiper and many Lapwing. On the adjacent hedge and rough area were 3 Whinchats feeding. A single Common Tern sat on a post over the water and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the muddy shore. Few passerines, c15 Starlings, Linnets, Goldfinches and a single Whitethroat. The usual duck species were present too.
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