Sunday 19 October 2014

Merlins and first Redwings


 

The wind was still blowing but was more south-westerly and not as strong as yesterday. This encouraged a bit of movement this morning. Nick and I covered the main spots from dawn. Totals included 2 curlew, 1 song thrush, 3 blackbird, c20+ skylark, c10+ robin, 6+ reed bunting, 1+ yellowhammer, 2 chiffchaff, 1+ goldcrest, 24 starling, 6+ raven, c30+ jackdaw, 9+ stonechat, c120+ goldfinch, 1 swallow, c30+ pied wagtail, small numbers of linnet, chaffinch and meadow pipit, a flock of 16 redwing and, best of all, a merlin hunting the top fields. Butterflies were represented by small numbers of red admiral and a single clouded yellow.
This afternoon another merlin belted across the estuary, viewed from Mudbank. Also 2 bar-tailed godwit, 1+ black-tailed godwit, 1 teal and 2 greenshank among the usual stuff. Four clouded yellow were on Warren View football pitch behind our house.



Meadow Pipit - small numbers around this morning.


Four of six Raven knocking around.


Goldfinches were moving through in small parties from first light.


Fifteen of a flock of at least 21 roaming around the Bristol Schools Camp.


Clouded Yellow


The Dung Field Stonechat gathering now numbers at least 9 birds. 



Only 3 Blackbirds noted this morning. Still pretty dire for thrushes on Orcombe but it was good to see Redwings at last.


Immature Shelduck - Mudbank.


A few Mallard are still mingling with much larger numbers of Wigeon and Pintail off Mudbank.




Adult and Juvenile Brent Geese - Mudbank.

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