Tuesday 8 October 2013

Barleyfield Provides Yellowhammer with Bed and Breakfast!!

Sunday 6th October: Clear, dry, cool start, Light SW -  Barleyfield area

As posted previously light South-westerlies, really do suit visible migration in the valley, today producing the best Pipit passage of the Autumn so far for me (there are still no noticeable Woodpigeon movements over the mid-section of the valley):

Canada Goose - 117 SW early
Black-headed Gull -217 SW from roost to Staffs feeding areas
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 10 SW
Stock Dove - 2 NW
Collared Dove - 3 South, can't remember when I last seen this many in one morning from Barleyfield!!
Meadow Pipit - 191 South - these really are good conditions for this species and it was great to see good numbers dropping onto the newly extended middle scrub!!
Pied Wagtail - 17 South
Grey Wagtail - one West early on and one SW from Graisley Culvert later.
Song Thrush - 2 West and 1 South (1 uttering brief phrases of song to the SW)
Starling - 1 SW was poor but c25 left from the academy floodlights SW later
Chaffinch - 5 South
Goldfinch - 4 South and 7 around the North end of the Barleyfield

A remarkable 38 species were noted, without leaving the Barleyfield area, with the highlight being a female Yellowhammer that had been roosting in the Hawthorn at the tip of the middle scrub. It preened, called a few times, dropped to the ground then flew off South at 07:00.

Other notable sightings included.....Geoff Russon!!! YES, it sounds like he is migrating South again now as well, so get used to seeing "Mr Camouflage" on a regular basis again (we hope).

Sparrowhawk - one SW along valley early and one East into the middle scrub later
Great Spotted Woodpecker - female at top of Barleyfield
Dunnock - getting more vocal with 3 around the south end
Blackcap -male and probable adult female at Hanging Gardens
Chiffchaff - birds singing at top of Barleyfield, where two were later seen and also at Eddy's Alders
Goldcrest - one at top of Barleyfield
Nuthatch - one calling from Eastern border
Jay - 2+ in SW corner
Bullfinch - 4+ around





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