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Garden / Yard List 2024 (1 Viewer)

Today, garden lifer again!

#61. Taiga Bean Goose - During the afternoon, at least 500 geese have passed in front of the home office window (OK, not quite "front of", a little bit higher). Not all of them have necessarily been TBG, but those were only one I've been able to ID
 

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1 October

Heavy overnight migration meant a great day with 59 species and 320 migrants. Surprisingly, I got no new year additions and no photos! Some highlights included Osprey (1), Northern Harrier (1), Common Black Hawk (1), Red-naped Sapsucker (3rd yard record), American Kestrel (23), Western Meadowlark (18), Brewer's Blackbird (44), Yellow-rumped Warbler (19), and Townsend's Warbler (1).

The Common Black Hawk was my first since March, and the Townsend's Warbler was the second this fall.


2 October

A stiff easterly headwind kept migration activity low, but 95 migrants included some highlights. The last migrant hummingbirds are coming through, such as Black-chinned and Rufous (1 each today). I was surprised that a

130. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

was new for the year. This cute visitor often signals the approach of late fall and winter. I got fantastic looks as it foraged in mesquites and briefly on the ground.
 

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3 October

Another really nice flight of 250 migrants, with 52 species and some good birds. Highlights included the following:

Turkey Vulture (21)
Broad-winged Hawk (1, 3rd yard record and regional rarity)
Acorn Woodpecker (1, 2nd yard record)
American Kestrel (27)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (3)

131. Cedar Waxwing (1)

Lark Bunting (9)
Brewer's Blackbird (48)

Photos include Vaux's Swift, juvenile Broad-winged Hawk, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (a fun species in flight!), Cedar Waxwing, Phainopepla, and juvenile Chipping Sparrow.
 

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Back down to earth this morning, virtually nothing moving this morning. 2 Kingfishers together was nice, also 2 or 3 Grey Herons regularly in the river.

I just reviewed my Firecrest recording from yesterday afternoon, and was surprised to hear that I had recorded the Yellow-browned Warbler without realising it. No sign today though.
 
A new addition to the apartment list today, number 30 since late 2022 - European pied flycatcher - saw one further down the coast yesterday too, so still migrating through the Algarve.

Had our first Sardinian warbler of the year yesterday too - very common a short distance away on the salt pans, but don't get into our local urban gap site too often.
 
Deathly quiet in and over the garden today, such a contrast from a week ago.

The only thing was plenty of Gulls going over, and I could see through the trees some were down on the Cricket Pitch. One was an adult Yellow-legged Gull, new for the month. Now on 66. I’ve only bettered that monthly total 6 times. Best is 72 - I could be in with a chance of beating that, if things turn around.
 
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A proper Aurora Borealis was a life tick for me, and something I have always wanted to see. And to watch it from my back garden was even better. Just red visible to my eyes, and my phone revealed nothing else, but around the county other birders were getting fantastic shots of combos of red green and purple.
If there is a repeat tonight I will drive out of town to see if there is a better view away from the urban glare. Must remember not to have such a large whisky after my meal.
 
Another slow migration morning:
Redwing 2, 1, 2, 1, 7, 1, 10, 2, 1,
Song Thrush 3, 2, 1,
Pied Wagtail 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 1, 1,
Meadow Pipit 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1,
Chaffinch 1, 1, 2, 2,
Goldfinch 1,
Swallow 2,

Swallow is late, my latest is Oct 14th. Yesterday somewhat slimmer still, but there was a Skylark, which is always nice to get.

Unsure what this foot-stomping means, but a female Muntjac he was pursuing just went and hid.

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We were visiting family in Devon and London from 1st to 9th, nice, sunny and mild for all but our last day and still plenty of hirundine action, I even added one species to my Year List, Meadow Pipit (the shame of it!). Back home it felt immediately more autumnal (by the way, on checking , my last Barn Swallow was 11 Sept and last House Martin on the 19th) with increased numbers of Chaffinch, the Middle Spotted Woodpeckers coming closer and the first Hawfinch visiting since early Spring. I was on Yellow-browed Warbler alert today as a lot of Chiffchaff appeared, but no luck yet. As you can see, our 'pond' is a bit small, whenever a Blackbird takes a bath I have to go and refill it, so an upgrade is due to arrive any day now which might tempt a stray Goosander to drop in ;)
 

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Feeling a bit wintery these days, most migrants now departed. In fine sunshine today, however, a couple of Pale Clouded Yellows and two Small Whites, plus a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, certainly the latest I have ever seen here.

Whooper Swans have successfully raised their youngsters, they left their pool a few days back and what I assume was them did fly over today, nice strong fliers.

One addition for the year - southbound female Hen Harrier - takes me to 150 for the year.


150. Hen Harrier


Photos of the last couple of nights - aurora and the moon, both from veranda:

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Unsure what this foot-stomping means, but a female Muntjac he was pursuing just went and hid.

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I don't have any experiences of Muntjac, but White-tailed Deer stomps foot when it's nervous. Last summer I was observing the Ospreys nest when the Deer appeared from behind me and came about 15 m away before noticing me. It stopped hesitantly and after a moment began to stomp. When I moved a little, it turned on its heel and ran away with a blows.
 
With my Chiffies now gone till March/April and with day turned into night with little action on the “birdy front” this event was the best show in grdn…with Mommy Muntjac and fawn, showing little nervousness around this vixen today.😮
 

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With my Chiffies now gone till March/April and with day turned into night with little action on the “birdy front” this event was the best show in grdn…with Mommy Muntjac and fawn, showing little nervousness around this vixen today.😮
Interesting. Foxes are pretty much nocturnal around here. Even though there is a den in the scrub at the back of the garden I only see them about once a year. However, I did once see one standing next to a Muntjac with apparently no nervousness on either part.
 
In the Crow’s nest this am…heard an odd noise (never did find out what made it!), looked up,
to see circa dozen Redwings disappearing North out of the window frame and a “silent” no 81….winging South.(one of my irregular
regulars) 😉
Plus a “slow on the draw” shot of one of “me faves” (must speed up 🤣) and a cameo from yesterday.

Looks like I’ll have to remain Mute on no.81.😉
 

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