Last Patch Walk in October

Date: 30/10/2014
Location: Patch Walk - Zones 1,2+5
Observation: Started patch walk through campsite and up to dog walk not much about until fields. Skylarks buzzing over hedgerows and 5 Jays with a squirrel in field also. Into village with a Buzzard soaring overhead. Through church yard and another Jay collecting food.

                  At Lake Little Owl And Kingfisher Were Present.

Out Through College On Rugby Field

 A Common Gull, Seen One Last Year Same Place !

Headed up to Park View Farm, Meadow Pipits on ploughed field and groups of Linnet numbering 50+ and Starlings around 30 also Kestrel on the hover and Sparrowhawk low over edge of field.

Then a flash past on lower fields thought Hobby as seen one here 3 weeks ago but looking at pictures think Peregrine (any comments ? ) Poor shot sorry !

Weather: Grey Skies + Warmish
Other Species: Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Little Owl, Peregrine, Skylark, Goldcrest, Linnet, Kingfisher, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Common Gull. 
Still - Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral.

12 O'clock lane a Goldcrest and a large group of Blue, Great + Long-Tailed Tits!

Thanks for Looking !

Another Portland Trip!

Date: 25th-26th October - All Day

Location:  Weymouth - Ferrybridge + Portland Bill

The Brent Goose Dance !

Spooked !

 The Mud Crew!

Observation:  Had the weekend off to do some birding, Weymouth it is! Got to Portland about 9am Saturday and done the normal 10 mile walk, was cloudy and windy. Was a disappointing walk with only 16 species seen total on that whole walk and only 10 pictures between us! Headed back to Ferrybridge but no geese either as low tide. A report of Yellow-Browed Warblers came through so headed to Radipole Lake to find them. Seen a small group of birders who were watching it, got there and popped out in full view (I was too slow for picture!) and it made us wait another 20 minutes before showing enough for a picture! Got a few shots but don't think good enough for life list :(

Sunday morning we got up for high tide at Ferrybridge, 1,000+ Brent Geese on The Fleet so watched them for an hour or so, another report come through for 2 Velvet Scoter but couldn't see/find them. Headed onto Radipole after about 80 pictures of the Geese! North Hide highlights were Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 2 Green Sandpiper and 4 Meadow Pipit washing in front of hide! Nice to see the Hooded Merganser back also! 2 Yellow-Browed still present but even more elusive than ever! No improved shots. We had better luck with the Long-Tailed Duck it was opposite the Discovery Centre, we seen another birder on cycle way on the oppisite side, we also walked around that way, bingo popped up about 15 feet in front of us, so led down not to scare it and kept within that distance. Nice little bonus!! Lastly, went to Lodmoor, not alot there really but a nice Sparrowhawk hunting, a Snipe, Godwits, Stonechat and a very close Grey Heron. Before we headed home we drove to the Lighthouse, and had dinner, finally found the Little Owl at Obs Quarry, been looking in the wrong quarry all this time! A few night shots and home!

Weather:  Cloudy, Windy - Not good for birding or photography!

Other Species: Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Little Owl, Stonechat, Linnet, Goldfinch, Shag, Yellow-Browed Warbler, Brent Geese, Turnstone, Green Sandpiper, Black-Tailed Godwit, Meadow Pipit, Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Long-Tailed Duck, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull - Of Note

Thanks For Reading!

Uphill Estuary Wander

Date: 16/10/2014

Location: Chew Valley-Uphill-Weston STW

Observation: Blue skies so headed to Chew for a look for Skua which was reported day before and 2hrs before I got there. But No. Saw a video Here . Hope you don't mind Lee! 

Gave it an hour so then headed to Uphill & Weston STW. A kestrel was first spot with Raven hounding him Squawking... DROP IT ! 

A big groups of Linnets & Goldfinch overhead and Stonechats at least 10 in hedgerows toward STW.

Female Framed

 Keeping An Eye On Me !

 Reed Bunting, Gravel Breakfast ?

Reeds have grown a lot couldn't see much on pool but there were a lots of gulls overhead snapping up Dragonflies.

Headed round other side of estuary at Uphill where Redshank maybe 50 + & Shelducks 50+ Teal and a few Wigeon were on Mud Bank.

Black Rock On River Axe Estuary

 I Seem To Do A Lot Of Laying Around !

Finished Walk With Some Beautiful Starlings. Incoming !

Weather: Blue to start, grey but dry to end + warm Other Species: Shelduck, Teal, Redshank, Wigeon, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, GBB gull, Grey Heron, Stonechat, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Raven, Starlings - Of Note

Late Report From 9/10/2014

A dead Weasel found along Waltining Lane by Trigpoint ! + 7 Skylarks in fields.

Thanks For Looking !

A Soggy Day At Westhay RSPB

Date: 15/10/2014

Location: Westhay-Somerset Levels

Distant Wet Peregrine

Observation: Headed to Westhay RSPB with thoughts of a wander round but rain shortened the walk! From hide a Peregrine was perched on gate post with Shovellers, Teal & Wigeon in pool not much else.

Sat in van for coffee watching feeders not much there either Chaffinch, Tits. I'll try again next month.

Weather: Rain + Cloudy

Did See This Little Chap

Male Chaffinch Looking Good!

Other Species: Grey Heron, Peregrine, Buzzard, Shoveller, Wigeon, Teal, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Robin - Of Note

Thanks For Looking !