Sunday 20 October 2019

SEOs


When I arrived at Orcombe Point at 0720 it wasn't quite light so my attempts at photographing a hunting Short-eared Owl didn't go well. A little while later, once it was a fair bit lighter, two birds were inadvertently flushed from the dung heap, but my attempts at photographing them were still dreadful...
 
An enjoyable dawn visit to Orcombe with some northerly in the breeze and overcast conditions before brightening in to a beautiful sunny morning. Totals included my first two Short-eared Owls of the autumn along with my first 'wheezing' Brambling and rattling Mistle Thrush. Also 1+ Reed Bunting, c60+ Pied Wagtail, several Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Skylark, 7+ Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing, 2+ Song Thrush, 30+ Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 7+ Goldcrest, 8+ Chaffinch, c300+ Woodpigeon, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 2 Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Swallow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 13+ Starling and 2 Stonechat.
I couldn't find yesterday's Reed Warbler on Warren View playing fields, but a singing male Cirl Bunting was present briefly.



I didn't see any Jackdaw flocks on Orcombe this morning but a flock of about 140 birds went north over the house on my return from this morning's birding.

 
The first flocks of Woodpigeon went over this morning and they were targeted by at least one Peregrine. My biggest flock was c130 birds which headed south and out to sea.
 
 
Good views of some smart drake Pintail off Mudbank this morning.

2 comments:

  1. Always a thrill to see Short-eared Owls!

    On my local patch yesterday there was a good movement of Wood Pigeons + for the first time a big movement of Jackdaws over. At least 200 birds west. Usually have 30-40 local birds, but these were flying through in flocks. This seemed to be repeated at many sites in the London area + one site had 800+ over. Never known this here before- wonder where they came from + where they are headed?

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  2. Hi Neil - we get moving Jackdaws every year at this time of year, usually involving hundreds of birds. It would indeed be fascinating to know where they've come from and where they're going. Woodpigeon movement picked up today. All the best. Matt

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