Thursday, October 01, 2009

Thursday 1st October

After a cool and cloudy start to the day, the Sun was out to warm things up by mid-morning.

Yew


A lone House Martin was observed catching insects around the tops of the Wellingtonia along Laurel Walk, 5 Goldcrests were noted, 3 Chiff Chaff were seen, a Treecreeper called from trees next to the Old Walled Garden entrance, a Nuthatch was heard calling, a Coal Tit was calling from the wood east of the old Carriage Bridge, a Pied Wagtail was on the short grass west of Mote House, and 10 Jay were seen.

The areas of wetland proved to be the most productive for birds today. 3 Siskin were seen in the Alder Carr by the footbridge along the River Len – the earliest I have ever recorded this species in the autumn, a Grey Wagtail was feeding around the Waterfall, the Cetti’s Warbler continued to sing from the Lakeside trees on the Golf Course side of the Lake, and 2 Grey Herons could be seen standing on the Golf Course side of the Lake. Out on the Lake were at least 8 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Mute Swans, 20 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant, 3 Shoveler, 2 Pochards – the first to return this autumn – and at least 31 Black-headed Gulls were noted.

Great Crested Grebe

Also of note was a Speckled Wood butterfly seen along the track running north of Cobtree Hall (the original Willington Street).

2 comments:

Greenie said...

Simon ,
Siskins already , it must be Autumn .
Really like the Little Grebe shot .

Warren Baker said...

Good to see the Siskins are arriving Simon. Hopefully one will show up here!

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