Sunday 25 November 2018

With the nights drawing in there is just about enough time after work to drive down to the lake and fill the feeders.
This has yielded some good views of Water Rails and on 22nd a Coot had arrived and was still on the lake this morning.
Friday 23rd a Chiffchaff was found in the ditch at the southern end of the lake and was still around on saturday 24th but not seen today.The ditch also produced three Reed Buntings on saturday.
Today there was a definate increase in bird numbers with lots of Fieldfares(200) and Chaffinches(35+) plus Siskin(40) and 2 Lesser Redpolls in with a flock of 25 Goldfinches.
The real highlites were a LITTLE EGRET,the second this year and a bird not recorded every year and four GREENFINCHES up at the farn house.
Late this afternoon I went to look for local Barn Owls and saw one as it left the box to go hunting.It's great to have them breeding locally again after a few years abscence.Sixteen Yellowhammers were also seen.
With constant grey skies and rain I haven't managed any photos but have added a few from a walk at Shellness a little while ago.
Sanderling(first winter)
Turnstone

Redshanks

 

Monday 19 November 2018

My patch walk on Saturday 17th produced 48 species with he highlite being a skein of Dark bellied Brent Geese(106).
Winter thrush numbers remain low but a flyover Yellowhammer was a bonus as very few are recorded over the orchards.A few birds were going over including Skylark, Meadow Pipit and a single Bullfinch.

Fieldfares
Mistle Thrush

Down at the lake the Water Rail was near the feeders and a Marsh Tit was behind Lake Cottage.
In the afternoon I took a look around the farm buildings and found a couple of Pied and a Grey Wagtail feeding in the sheltered sunny side.
Grey Wagtail
  
We recently went to Norfolk for the weekend and were lucky to find the 14 Shorelarks at Holkham.
Some of the Shorlarks in Norfolk

Monday 5 November 2018

The first Fieldfares of the autumn appeared on 6th October followed by the Redwings on the 11th.
The sunny days in early October produced my first Clouded Yellows of the year plus afew Small Coppers and Small and Common Blues plus Peacocks.
 Clouded Yellows 

As the month ticked by thrush numbers increased as did Siskin and Lesser Redpolls with good numbers appearing on the 20th.
Probably the last Chiffchaff of the autumn was seen on 25th.
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker flew over me on the 27th and one was seen on 4th Nov.
Distant Lesser Spot

Early on 4th a nice surprise was a Black Redstart(105) around the buildings in Kirkins.
Black Redstart in Kirkins