enough to spoil this mornings birding, Peregrine on the east bank.
Mega distant shot.
The morning started with torrential rain but this soon cleared to a poor cloud cover, 4/8 okts, and too much sunshine. The wind made it more pleasant blowing at W>4. By the late afternoon watch the cloud cover had increased to a pleasing 6/8 okts blanking out the sun.
Sky movement was poor with Swifts, Swallows and Herring gulls over but once again the local Peregrine was firstly on the ponds and then spent the entire morning watch sat on the east bank so no chance of waders today. On the way home this morning 2 Peregrines were harassing the Starling flock at Nolstar.
The afternoon was better with the family of Stonechat present along with Wheatears and several post breed Meadow Pipits whilst LBB, Common and Herring gulls were on the shoreline.
Vis Mig.
2 Swifts................................ >S
43 Swallows........................>W
17 Herring gull...................>SW
Bloggers
Sev Meadow Pipits
3 Stonechat
5 Wheatear
Present
2 Common gull
2 Herring gull, juvs
4 LBB gull
3 Peregrine
5 Kestrel, up together
2 Red Legged Partridge.
Getting the word out.
As I arrived home from this afternoons watch I got a phone call from
Charlie Fleming , a Devon birder that is up here to watch tonights football match.
He had just driven past Ringstone res and seen a large raft of Common Scoter on the water so rang it through to me to see if it was of any interest. I put it out on the grapevine and a quick response by the cavalry found 37 male and 3 female Common Scoters out in the middle of the water.
Many thanks to Charlie for incorporating the old school birding by getting the message out to locals even though he is 300 miles from home. Due to him taking the time to let us know several birders have been able to see the birds where otherwise they could have gone through unrecorded as it is likely they will be gone by morning.
Also thanks to AT et al for a quick response on confirming the sighting.
NOTE.. The Common Scoters flew off >W at 1945 hrs. PD
BS