It was another tricky week weather-wise, with days of consecutive fog and rain creating difficult conditions for birding. But other days have seen southwesterlies and lively visible migration, which has certainly kept things interesting as the autumn draws to a close. This is also my last week on the Hill before my return to Brazil, and this means I finished my Soil Hill yearlist on 103, just the second year I have breached the three-figure mark.
- Having cleared up Brambling last week, this week I notched up my other outstanding and slightly embarrassing patch-tick (although noticeably rarer in recent years) in Great Black-backed Gull. An adult flew distantly northwest towards TMR as viewed through the scope, on the 26th. A bit distant for photos, but you get the idea; massive gull with black back! My 122nd species for the site!
- The Tawny Owl that was around at the end of the last week was present on four dates this week. As usual, it remains stationary atop a fence post, but always watching you as you walk past it. It’s always a treat to find a day-roosting owl.
- The flock of Long-tailed Tits that made an appearance last week were still around on the 25th, moving from the North Slope bushes onto Ned Hill Track where they continued to be mobile and vocal. Although I only counted six, I suspect that there were probably more as they were very mobile and difficult to count.
Once again the main event of the week was VizMig, with some excellent days with thousands of migrants passing, but equally a number of days with absolutely nothing happening…
- Without doubt the species of the week was Woodpigeon, with three four-figure counts during the week; 2572 on the 25th, 4085 on the 26th and the biggest day on the 30th, when 5467 went south. The crazy thing is that most of the large numbers always moved through in the first hour after sunrise, on the 30th especially there were moments where I was almost overwhelmed by the large flocks. In addition, also on the 30th, there were 19 Stock Dove that went south, including two flocks of seven.
- Strangely it feels like thrush migration has already ended for the year. On most days where VizMig was happening there were three-figure counts of Fieldfare, peaking at 217 south on the 30th, but no huge numbers on any dates. Equally, Redwings seem to have dropped off although there were 399 south on the 25th and then 248 northeast on the 26th. Otherwise there were no more three-figure counts.
- There was the first notable movement of Starlings this week. Although c.300 flew north on the 25th I suspect these were mostly local birds. But on the 30th there were 827 that went south during the morning. The flocks were large and compact so its difficult to gauge an accurate count with the clicker so there is a good chance I undercounted.
- And finally a quick summary of the various finches that have been moving this week. Always in small numbers but a few nice species among the commoner birds.
- The most notable species that went south this week was Common Crossbill, when three flew south on the 25th, calling. I was too sluggish on the camera, but these are still my first Crossbills here since the summer eruption during 2020.
- On two dates I had Brambling fly south, just one on the 25th (although almost certainly more heading south silently) and then on the 30th when 10 went south, in a flock of calling away. Again though, I suspect that there were more going south. This was the species I really wanted this autumn so its been good to get them on a few different dates.
- Its been a good week for Lesser Redpoll with individuals passing on all four dates which saw VizMig, including 18 on the 26th. There was also a flock of 11 blogging at the bottom of the North Slope on the 30th, they dropped into the small woodland opposite Keelham Farm Shop.
- To round up commoner species, the last Linnet went south on the 26th, the only one of the week. The highest Siskin count of the week was 22 which went south on the 25th, Chaffinch peaked at 42 on the 26th, with notable other counts of 24 on the 24th and then 28 on the 30th. Goldfinch also had some good totals with 27 on the 30th being the best, and counts in the low-teens on other dates. And finally, a small flock of four Greenfinch flew south on the 30th.
It was fairly quiet on the wildfowl front, with little
change in species numbers or composition from the previous week. That said, it’s
nice to see groups of Canada Geese using the Hill again after missing
them for most of the month. Actually interesting wildfowl however…
- On the morning of the 30th two swans flew north in the very early hours, before the sun had crested the hill. In the field they looked strikingly small, almost like barnyard geese, so I grabbed the camera hoping it would be able to manage the gloom. It couldn’t, but seemed to all but stop my train of thought in its tracks with long neck and bulky structure being quite clear. But as to what they actually were, I couldn’t tell, I’ve never had Mute here, but seems odd for Whoopers to being north. The ones that got away I think…
- The only flock of Pink-footed Geese were 35 that battled west low over the Hill on the 26th, struggling in the strong winds.
- The only Eurasian Teal of the week were two flushed from the bottom marsh on the 30th. Strangely none seemed to be using the NK Pond this week. The same date saw the only Goosander of the week fly north distantly.
Other birding continued to be enjoyable this week. There
have been small numbers of Common Snipe this week, not the large numbers
seen the previous week but at least one has been seen most days. The increased
rainfall has created ample more habitat for them, which I suspect has helped
disperse them. Jack Snipe I managed on only one date, the 28th
but there were two individuals involved, which is the first time I managed more
than a single this autumn.
On the 26th the Grey Partridges made a return to my sightings list, with three flushed in the early hours on Taylor Lane. A flock of seven Partridges I flushed on the summit later in the morning were probably the other group but I was not able to rule out Red-legged Partridge, which were also around on a couple of dates this week.
Quite a poor week for Goldcrest, with singles on the 24th and 25th, then two on the 30th. Clearly no increase of numbers during the autumn, but maybe it will come after I leave. On the other hand, Stonechat was recorded almost daily, with a peak count of six on the 24th.
A few final bits; two Raven were blogging on the 30th, and a Peregrine flew south on the same date, my first for a while. And to round things off, the winter population of Bullfinch has continued to be around all week, with at least three seen every day and a high count of six on both the 26th and 28th. Almost all the birds are males, which seems strange.
Soil Hill: Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Goosander, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, 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, Brambling, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Red Crossbill, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,
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