Monday, 21st October: A calm but grey and heavily overcast morning with a barely noticeable S/SW breeze at first and feeling quite mild. Remaining dry until about lunchtime, before rain eventually set in as the breeze increased to force 3-4.
Elmer Rocks: The still morning produced nothing beyond some gulls moving about offshore, but there were a few bits and pieces of interest. A nice 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull showed well but briefly on the beach, whilst overhead a flock of c.30 Siskins went east and a Grey Wagtail, two Pied Wagtails and 12 Swallows went west. In the bushes along the path and the back of the beach, a Firecrest was present, together with three Chiffchaffs. A number of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were on the move, mostly just heard though a few seen. At least 70 Mediterranean Gulls were also to be found, commuting between the beach, the rockpools and the adjacent fields.
Bilsham farm: Access to the area is now quite an ordeal, with the paths and tracks little more than a sea of mud. However, it was worth the effort today when a juvenile Black-necked Grebe was located. This is now the fourth year running the species has appeared in the area; it's possible it has even occurred previously but this is beyond my knowledge. Also on the reservoir were seven Little Grebes, three Shoveler, two Gadwall, three Tufted Ducks and c.160 Coots. Two Chiffchaffs were also in the surrounding hedges.
Black-necked Grebe (juv) at Bilsham Farm
Saturday, 19th October: Heavy rain in the early hours extended into the dawn and beyond, finally clearing around 08:30hrs, when the sun broke through to give a mainly sunny day with some white cloud and a moderate breeze W 3-4.
Bilsham farm: I was committed elsewhere for most of the morning due to the monthly WeBS count, so just had time to make a brief visit here on my return, to see if there was anything more unusual on offer. In short, there wasn't, the only new arrivals being a party of six Mute Swans - clearly a family of four juveniles with their parents - which were around a flock of 24 Canada Geese, these having been present for some days. There was still a good count of Coots (160+) but very little else; two Tufted Ducks, a single Gadwall and six Little Grebes being about it. A Yellowhammer, two Chiffchaffs and a couple of Meadow Pipits around the margins were the only other species of note.
No comments:
Post a Comment