Thursday, September 22, 2022

πŸ“– Dalmadilly Ponds September 22nd 2022

🌧14C Thursday 22nd September 2022 ~ On the eve of the autumn equinox a morning walk in the rain around my local patch at Dalmadilly Ponds, which surprisingly produced plenty of activity. There are still small numbers of common migrants to be found, including a couple of hormonal Chiffchaffs happily singing away in the downpour. No less than three Blackcaps were noted feeding on the Elder, plus a brief view of Garden Warbler and at least two Willow Warblers.

One of three Blackcaps recorded today.

Fruit-bearing trees have certainly had a bumper year and the Bullfinches were making the most of them. I've always found the ponds to be an excellent place for Bullfinch and today was no exception with (24) recorded!

One of a group of Bullfinch enjoying the bounty.

Tit flocks are now beginning to form up and searching through a mainly Long-tailed Tit group, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit were all recorded. House Martin's were numerous today along with smaller numbers of Swallows all coming low to search for insects. Plenty of Siskin to be found feeding mainly in the tree canopy and the first autumnal party of (18) Pink-footed Geese flew over from the north. Also overhead at one stage a flock of (11) Lesser Redpoll. Looking down onto the River Don (3) Grey Wagtails and a party of (6) Goosander but still no sign this autumn of any Dippers, normally regular along this stretch!

Little Grebe ~ Sadly no sign of breeding on the ponds this year!

On the ponds (3) Little Grebes, including one on the larger pond but unfortunately, unlike last summer I've seen no sign of any breeding this year. This I feel mainly due to the disruption by paddle borders, dingies and swimmers. Since moving here I've never been certain as to whether the ponds, left over from the quarry extraction were built for leisure or nature. There are two excellent hides which remain locked (you have to request the key) which in two years I've never seen used and even if open would be pretty useless as the paths run directly in front! 

Dryad's Saddle ~ the largest capped mushroom in the UK

Despite the weather, there were several Vapourer Moths in flight, which simply refused to land and of course, this time of year is also good for fungi with a nice find of Dryad's Saddle


A couple more soggy Bullfinch enjoying the Rowan today.