Monday, October 22, 2018

πŸ“– #60 October Overview 🍁

I feel as though I've been neglecting the blog somewhat over the past several weeks so a quick overview to try and bring things up to date.

My recordings uploaded to the Trektellen site
If I'm not out birding early doors its breakfast going over the previous nights #nocmig (nocturnal bird recordings), which have been pretty much as you'd expect during the early autumn, with lots of Redwings and Song Thrushes moving through the night. The local Tawny Owls and a single Little Owl have been quite vocal around the locality but a real surprise in the early hours of the 18th, when a single Whooper Swan was recorded, possibly the same bird was seen at Draycote that afternoon?

Water Rail at Napton Reservoir in the low water
Monday, October 15th.... An early start at Napton Reservoir with Green Sandpiper, (22) Snipe, (2) Water Rail and a Woodcock inadvertently flushed on the track at the top end of reedbed ~ Then three hours at Brandon Marsh with Jim Rushforth searching many tit flocks for a Yellow-browed Warbler reported the day before. Best I managed was (3) Chiffchaff, (2) Willow Tit and (90+) Wigeon on East Marsh Pool.

Brambling with the Chaffinch at Napton Churchyard
Tuesday October 16th.... Brambling among the Chaffinch at Napton Churchyard in the gloom this morning.

Hobby over East Marsh Pool ~ Brandon Marsh
Wednesday October 17th.... A cracking morning of #vismig (visual migration) at Brandon Marsh when I noted 50+ Skylark, 5 Brambling and 2 Crossbill over the reserve, along with Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Redwings. Two Stonechat from the Jury Hide but the highlight had to be a couple of late staying Hobby, which performed well over the reserve.

Yellow-browed Warbler ~ Holkham Pines

Yellow-browed Warbler

Juvenile Hobby at Holkham Pines
Thursday October 18th.... A day visit to North Norfolk with Theo de Clearmont on Thursday 18th wasn't the most prolific of birding days but gorgeous autumnal weather. Highlights for the day included Great Skua, a flypast of eleven Eider Duck at Salhouse and a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers at Holkham Pines, where once again a juvenile Hobby performed well.

Brandon year-tick with a couple of Egyptian Geese

Pintail on East Marsh

Dog Otter passing quietly by East Marsh Hide
Saturday October 20th.... Quieter visual migration at Brandon Marsh than of late but time spent in the East Marsh Hide produced a couple of Egyptian Geese, Pintail and a Dog Otter.


Record shot of Ring Ouzel at the marina
Saturday October 20th.... An amazing stroke of luck at the marina on Saturday afternoon while heading off for lunch with Dazza. While walking along the East bank she spotted a small group of Thrushes feeding in the Hawthorn, picking out a lovely male Ring Ouzel. Unfortunately, by the time I'd gone back for the camera, this was the best I got before it flew off towards Napton Hill.