A few afternoon visits this week to see what was about. Most of the activity relates to the Juvenile Cuckoo that had now settled near the bottom of Taylor Lane. That single juvenile Cuckoo soon became 2 Juvenile Cuckoos, and then an adult. The most I have managed was 2 birds at once but I reckon I have seen all 3 at some point. They have been present for all my trips up this week, which is a nice bonus to the pretty low bird diversity.
Any patch ticks this week? The first, though not really a patch tick, was on the 27th when a Grey Wagtail flew over Taylor Lane whilst watching the Cuckoos. Sadly not in the patch area but still a bird I've not seen on the hill at all previously.
So the only real patch tick was on the 30th. Whilst walking up, but in my recording area, I heard a Siskin calling, but could not see it at all, and so considered it a patch tick that had got away. However, along the western side of the hill I flushed 2 Siskin feeding on thistles and managed to pin them down settled on a wall-top. However, they then flew off North into another thistle patch further up the track, where they were greeted by a chorus of siskin calls. A quick investigation revealed a flock of around 20 birds. I watched them for some time and got a few nice record shots. Walking round the hill a few more flew over calling, so I reckon it total I saw about 25 birds. A nice way to get a patch tick.
27.08.2015
Diddnt make it up to the summit today, ended up watching 2 of the cuckoos for an hour and half, though they never came close.
Species List:
Soil Hill: Cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, Common Gull, Swallow, Black-Headed Gull,
-Cuckoo
29.08.2015
Species List:
Soil Hill: Linnet, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Kestrel, Swallow, Pheasant, Stock Dove, Meadow Pipit, Skylark,
30.08.2015
Besides the Siskins there was also a good count of Starling on the hill tonight, at least 50 birds gathered on the wires outside the Koi farm.
Species List:
Soil Hill: Swallow, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Meadow Pipit, Black-Headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Common Gull, Siskin, Goldfinch, Wren, Blackbird, Skylark, Starling,
-Siskin
Nice find Daniel, will be sad to lose you when Uni calls.
ReplyDeleteGrey Wag's a regular at Taylor Lane, Grey Horse Farm area and on the "muck" heap further up on the left near the ancient "combined harvester" - not sure if this is close enough to SH for a patch tick though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brian's comments - you'll be missed.
Hope the drivings going well
John