It was another tricky week on Soil Hill, with the weather playing a large part in how birdy a visit to the site has been. Wind and rain have dictated the timing of visits, and the availability of species on offer. All that said, there have still been a few days with nice migration, if not huge numbers of birds, and there have been a few highlights.
- Although not a real Soil Hill mega, I finally found my first Jack Snipe on the deck this week on the 9th. I have to say that without the thermal imager I would certainly not have spotted it, but once I had eyes on it the bird was quite content to rely entirely on its camouflage while I took some photos. The only other Jack Snipe of the week was a bird flushed on the 16th before I was able to find it with the thermal imager.
As eluded to, VizMig was very much hit-and-miss this week. On occasions there was rainfall and on others, the wind was too strong but on other days there were enough birds to keep things interesting as the species composition continues to gradually change as the autumn wears on.
- Throughout the week the numbers of Meadow Pipits fluctuated greatly, but only entered three figures on a single date, the 11th when 215 flew south on what was probably the most exciting VizMig day of the week.
There were a few Pied Wagtails on the move every day, but not in significant numbers and six on the 12th was the best count of the week.
- The number of Thrushes remained generally low to what would be expected during this time of year. The highest count of Redwings moving was on the 16th when 82 flew south, the only other significant movement was on the 11th when 39 flew south and 16 headed northeast. There have been a handful of Song Thrushes around but no significant movement and no counts entering double figures. And to wrap up the thrushes, the first Fieldfare of the year flew south on the 16th, chattering away as it went.
Finches were on the move in small numbers throughout the week. The variety was certainly appreciated and it kept even the quiet mornings interesting.
The species with the highest abundance this week has been Goldfinch, on some days being the most common moving finch. The best counts were 52 on the 13th, 45 on the 14th and 48 on the 11th.
During the week Siskin numbers picked up with high counts of 17 on both the 11th and the 13th.
Another species with good numbers was Lesser Redpoll with my best count being 10 south on the 13th, but small numbers recorded nearly daily.
Also on the 13th there was the best count of Chaffinch heading south, with 18 passing during the morning.
Certainly dropping in numbers this week in Linnet, with just a scattering of migrants and a best count of four on the 11th. However, on the 14th there were two sizeable flocks on Taylor Lane totalling 31 individuals.
A surprise reaapearance this week is Greenfinch, with a few birds moving south towards the end of the week, my first since mid-September here. On the 11th 10 flew south, and on the 13th there were 11 on the move.
And finally, Bullfinch have been blogging around all week, sometimes dropping in from on high, and sometimes leaving the bushes and heading strongly south but overall difficult to judge. The best count was five on the 10th.
Wildfowl passage was notable by its absence this week, with
no migrating geese of any kind recorded. There were still small numbers of Teal
frequenting the NK Pond, with my best count being seven, including two drakes,
on the 16th. Also on the 16th there was a small movement
of Goosander, with seven heading south and 10 heading northeast.
Once again Snipe were recorded almost daily with my best count being four on the 11th, 15th and then 16th. Undoubtedly there are more birds using the now-restored wet fields. A flock of Lapwing has been seen blogging over TMR on the 14th and 16th, but just a single flew west over the Hill on the 16th.
Counting migrants has been difficult this week due to the high winds, but there have still been a few birds. I was beginning to think that Chiffchaff might be done for the autumn with no appearances until the 14th when one was calling in the North Slope Tree-Line. Possibly the same bird was then feeding at the bottom of the North Slope on the 15th. The numbers of Goldcrests remained very steady throughout the week, with the best count being just two on a number of dates. The best Stonechat count of the week was on the 13th with four. Birds have been present nearly every day.
To wrap up, there have been three Grey Partridges using the fields on Perseverance Road on the 11th, 12th and 15th. A single Collared Dove flew north on the 10th, my first since mid-September. On an evening visit on the 9th there was a very nice Barn Owl hunting on Ned Hill Track. On the 14th a Jay was in the Koi Farm Copse, the first for some time. On the 11th a Green Woodpecker could be heard calling from the same location. And finally, Raven was seen on two dates; the 10th and then again on the 12th.
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Goosander, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,
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