Overhead

Great Northern Diver. One of two this morning, the first cutting a corner by flying directly over the Foxholes estate.

More birds than expected this morning with a good overhead passage, despite cloud cover. Derek and I did a quick early morning circuit and I nipped back up mid-afternoon. An estimated 200+ meadow pipit went through with c100+ 'alba' wagtail, 2 reed bunting, 1+ yellow wagtail, 1+ tree pipit, 7+ grey wagtail, 1+ siskin (my first of the autumn) and small numbers of hirundines, linnet, greenfinch and chaffinch. Also seen were 2 great northern diver, 7+ goldcrest, 20+ chiffchaff, 16+ skylark, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 2 blackcap and 2 coal tit. 

Last night 6 stonechat were in the top fields - a high count for Orcombe.

Goldcrest - 7 recorded today.

Chiffchaff

Wheatear - a big, quite richly coloured bird so possibly a 'Greenland' Wheatear. The bird below was photographed earlier in the week. Like many of the recent Wheatears, it too was fat and colourful.

Clouded Yellow