Saturday 18 October 2014

Recent Sightings

Whilst away in Norfolk all week, the same Northeasterlies that brought that county a major fall of birds also displaced a large number of birds locally.....

For example, Roy Hargreaves had a Grey Phalarope on Wilstone on Tuesday, as well as 2 Scandinavian Rock Pipits and a Pink-footed Goose, whilst on Friday he had 2 Grey Plovers.

On the Hills, Mike Wallen recorded at least 6 Ring Ouzels, numerous Brambling, a Woodlark, 2 Fieldfares and over a thousand Redwing

I did survey the area on FRIDAY (17 OCTOBER) visiting WILSTONE and although the 2 Grey Plover had moved on, I did log 650 Lapwing, 106 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER, a RUFF, the 2 Whooper Swans, 4 Little Grebe, 24 Mute Swan, 7 Pintail, 73 Pochard, 52 Sinensis and 2 remaining Black-tailed Godwit.

At IVINGHOE BEACON, Mike Wallen and I had a nice male RING OUZEL in the Whitebeam close to the S-bend at the start of the Beacon Slope, as well as 6 COMMON STONECHAT, a late NORTHERN WHEATEAR, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 COMMON RAVEN, 4 migrant Blue Tits, Jay, 76+ Goldfinch, 18 Common Starling, 3 Sinensis Cormorant West, 18 Common Starling, 45+ Skylark, Nuthatch, Yellowhammer, 30 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Goldcrest

My pictures from today.....


The Sheep Fields now full of sheep!



A late Northern Wheatear in the sheep pens




still 6 Common Stonechats on site


a migrant Reed Bunting - my first of the autumn here


a few Meadow Pipits still


at least 76 Goldfinches on site






An inquisitive Stoat

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