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Commute List - Record Broken (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter halftwo
- Start date
halftwo
Wird Batcher
As the season moves and the nights lengthen my commute this week has started at dawn.
This has reduced the spieces, so mornings have not been as good.
Swallows, Sparrows and Swifts are unavailable - but early singers like Chiffchaff and Blackcap can be heard first thing.
Also the breeding season is largely over now and even the moorland birds are moving around.
Yesterday in pouring rain the Oystercatchers were nowhere to be seen and the Lapwings and Curlews - at first elusive - were flying off elsewhere.
Rooks seem to have moved on and often aren't seen on my journey - where do they go?!
Next week I'm on nights - so things will be different on the commute.
This has reduced the spieces, so mornings have not been as good.
Swallows, Sparrows and Swifts are unavailable - but early singers like Chiffchaff and Blackcap can be heard first thing.
Also the breeding season is largely over now and even the moorland birds are moving around.
Yesterday in pouring rain the Oystercatchers were nowhere to be seen and the Lapwings and Curlews - at first elusive - were flying off elsewhere.
Rooks seem to have moved on and often aren't seen on my journey - where do they go?!
Next week I'm on nights - so things will be different on the commute.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Well, first commute onto the night shift & the highlight undoubtably the Little Owl perching on the goal posts of the local footy pitch!
But, although they were around just half an hour before the Swifts were gone by the time I set off.
A reasonable 28 - swelled by the three tit species in the garden as I set out, ending on Pied Wagtail as I got to work at dusk. Several common species not seen, however.
But, although they were around just half an hour before the Swifts were gone by the time I set off.
A reasonable 28 - swelled by the three tit species in the garden as I set out, ending on Pied Wagtail as I got to work at dusk. Several common species not seen, however.
Good thread Halftwo. I'm very jealous of the birds you have on your doorstep.
Rich
Rich
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Things have really slowed down now - difficult to reach 30 on a good day. Six Kestrels yesterday was good though.
All the waders have moved on - except for a few young Curlews. Warblers have stopped singing and things are generally quiet. Numbers of hirundines are down considerably and even the Canada Geese have moved on.
Weather hasn't helped the last few days either.
Had a Swift fly over last night at dusk on my way to work - suspect it might be my last of the year.
All the waders have moved on - except for a few young Curlews. Warblers have stopped singing and things are generally quiet. Numbers of hirundines are down considerably and even the Canada Geese have moved on.
Weather hasn't helped the last few days either.
Had a Swift fly over last night at dusk on my way to work - suspect it might be my last of the year.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Two days of complete contrast, yesterday & today.
Saturday, despite the weather being perfect I managed to see just 18 species - something of a low record for decent conditions.
Yet, today, despite the low cloud and just-stopped rain a fantastic 38! Highlights were a migrant Wheatear and a Stonechat over the tops and three Buzzards circling together later on. Still one or two missing, though - Rook & Pied Wagtail noticeable by their absence, for instance.
All the waders and Swifts have gone now, and Willow Warbler the only example of that family.
Saturday, despite the weather being perfect I managed to see just 18 species - something of a low record for decent conditions.
Yet, today, despite the low cloud and just-stopped rain a fantastic 38! Highlights were a migrant Wheatear and a Stonechat over the tops and three Buzzards circling together later on. Still one or two missing, though - Rook & Pied Wagtail noticeable by their absence, for instance.
All the waders and Swifts have gone now, and Willow Warbler the only example of that family.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Later going in this morning - and the day started with a garden year tick - a Yellow Wagtail.
The total grew to 38 with Long-tailed Tit and Willow Warbler the last two at work.
Not a single finch though and Great Tit & Black-headed Gull missing - both seen on the way home - bringing the day's total to a very respectable 40.
The total grew to 38 with Long-tailed Tit and Willow Warbler the last two at work.
Not a single finch though and Great Tit & Black-headed Gull missing - both seen on the way home - bringing the day's total to a very respectable 40.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Dusk last night:
Had to stop to avoid a young Mountain Hare which was hypnotised by a Stoat - jumping around it, ready to pounce.
Unfortunately I interrupted the hunt and the Stoat made off without the kill.
Hare remained in the road until I got out of the car - then it roused itself and made off!
A very creditable 34 this morning - with Grey Wagtails at start and finish, & a Kestrel catching a Mipit.
Had to stop to avoid a young Mountain Hare which was hypnotised by a Stoat - jumping around it, ready to pounce.
Unfortunately I interrupted the hunt and the Stoat made off without the kill.
Hare remained in the road until I got out of the car - then it roused itself and made off!
A very creditable 34 this morning - with Grey Wagtails at start and finish, & a Kestrel catching a Mipit.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
A Bit Of A Cheat
Last night I set off early & did a slight (250 metre) detour to take in the local reservoir.
Sunset was already underway - so some birds were already gone to roost. Nevertheless I managed a figure of 40 for the journey - not something achieved for a while.
With the last of the Willow Warblers calling and a couple of Oystercatchers visiting the water, plus species like Goosander, Heron, Coot, Snipe and Moorhen to add at the detour, I was also surprised to hear Linnets flying past. Curlews calling also showed that they haven't completly deserted their breeding grounds yet.
With 39 on the list by the time darkness had fallen, I'd stopped for fuel when a flock of Canada Geese flew over, bring the total to 40! And that was without the usually guaranteed Magpie, nor a single gull, amongst others.
All in all a very pleasant commute.
Last night I set off early & did a slight (250 metre) detour to take in the local reservoir.
Sunset was already underway - so some birds were already gone to roost. Nevertheless I managed a figure of 40 for the journey - not something achieved for a while.
With the last of the Willow Warblers calling and a couple of Oystercatchers visiting the water, plus species like Goosander, Heron, Coot, Snipe and Moorhen to add at the detour, I was also surprised to hear Linnets flying past. Curlews calling also showed that they haven't completly deserted their breeding grounds yet.
With 39 on the list by the time darkness had fallen, I'd stopped for fuel when a flock of Canada Geese flew over, bring the total to 40! And that was without the usually guaranteed Magpie, nor a single gull, amongst others.
All in all a very pleasant commute.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
A brilliant commute yesterday -set off a little early to linger in a couple of good spots:
First up a garden year tick of Tree Sparrow over! Also a Heron flew past and two Nuthatches in the near trees.
Though the weather was dull, with low cloud - or perhaps because of it - a Yellow Wagtail that I'd found a couple of days ago flew over calling and the Swallows and House Martins were gathered over the local lake.
A big flock of Mistle Thrushes amongst a throng of birds later - including a couple of continental Song Thrushes , many Starlings and Goldfinches with a single Linnet. While a Chiffchaff obliged nearby. Pied Wagtails aplenty and a single Buzzard added to the day's list but yesterday's Stonechats refused to show.
With 39 by the time I got to work a couple of Grey Wagtails there made the 40.
And that without House Sparrow!
First up a garden year tick of Tree Sparrow over! Also a Heron flew past and two Nuthatches in the near trees.
Though the weather was dull, with low cloud - or perhaps because of it - a Yellow Wagtail that I'd found a couple of days ago flew over calling and the Swallows and House Martins were gathered over the local lake.
A big flock of Mistle Thrushes amongst a throng of birds later - including a couple of continental Song Thrushes , many Starlings and Goldfinches with a single Linnet. While a Chiffchaff obliged nearby. Pied Wagtails aplenty and a single Buzzard added to the day's list but yesterday's Stonechats refused to show.
With 39 by the time I got to work a couple of Grey Wagtails there made the 40.
And that without House Sparrow!
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Now that autumn has seen off the last of the summer birds the commute list has taken a bashing. So it was good to get a few goodies on the way to work today.
At the local reservoir a Raven could be heard distantly, as a Linnet flew past. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk came past almost together very shortly after.
A late Wheatear bobbed along a wall by the road.
Next a Redpoll put in an appearance - a very rarely seen commute bird. Buzzards were up - and even three together at work.
So a great total of 34 - despite lack of Great and Coal Tits, Mistle Thrush and Red Grouse!
At the local reservoir a Raven could be heard distantly, as a Linnet flew past. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk came past almost together very shortly after.
A late Wheatear bobbed along a wall by the road.
Next a Redpoll put in an appearance - a very rarely seen commute bird. Buzzards were up - and even three together at work.
So a great total of 34 - despite lack of Great and Coal Tits, Mistle Thrush and Red Grouse!
