Monday, September 08, 2008

Monday 8th September


I was out early this morning, under an overcast sky.

6 Chiff Chaffs were noted, 4 Goldcrest were heard, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, 4 Nuthatch called, 8 Jay were seen, several House Martins were seen over the Lake, 4 Green Woodpeckers were seen, a Coal Tit sang from the Pines by the Turkey Mill pond, a female Kestrel perched motionless on a branch of an Oak in the rough grassland, 2 Treecreeper were heard in the Alder Carr, a Grey Wagtail was heard flying over the Lake, and there was a flock of 23 Black Headed Gulls on the top football pitches picking up insects from the newly mown grass.


Kestrel

Kestrel (from another angle)

I spent about 20 minutes up on the playing fields looking and listening for birds flying through and over the Park. Several flocks of Greenfinch and Goldfinch were seen flying over, 3 Meadow Pipits flew south – my earliest autumn record, and my first in the Park this year – a group of 3 Linnets also flew over, and a lone CROSSBILL flew south. 3 gull flocks were seen flying west; with 1 flock in particular including 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS – my third record of these large gulls over the Park. The most noticeable bird this morning was, however, the Swallow. In the 20 minutes I stood there a total of 64 Swallows streamed over the Park heading in a south/south-westerly direction. They travelled in numbers ranging from 1 single bird, to 2 groups of 12.

On the Lake were Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, a male Tufted Duck was seen by the fallen tree, 3 Mute Swans were with 3 Canada Geese on the water by the disabled car park, and 8 Great Crested Grebes were on the Lake. At least 7 Black-headed Gulls were flocked on the Lake, with an adult and an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull with them, 3 Cormorants were seen, with 2 birds flying west and 1 bird fishing in the Lake, a Grey Heron was perched on the boating ramps, and 2 Kingfishers were seen by the Weir.

Also noted was a Pike, seen waiting perfectly still along the banks of the track that runs between the Weir and the rough grassland.

2 comments:

Warren Baker said...

Another Crossbill. Thats being greedy!!
Simon I had my first Mipits arrive yesterday. They were the earliest recorded on my patch too.(by 1 day!)

Steve said...

Crossbill again! Great stuff.

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