Sunday 17 March 2024

Recording Friday night produced a real bonus in the form of a Common Scoter (91) which was migrating over land at 01:15. Another weekend of weather contrasts. Saturday dawned sunny, mild and windless and was a beautiful spring day whilst Sunday dawned cloudy and rain soon arrived making for a shorter session. Birding Saturday from 05:30 till 11am produced 2 Greylag Geese, 25 Mute Swan, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Partridge calling at dawn, 6 Pheasant, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 3 Snipe, c150 Herring Gull, 66 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 12 Common Buzzard with 7 together, 4 Kestrel, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 2 Raven, 7 Skylark, 9 Chiffchaff singing, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Treecreeper, 118 Starling, 4 Song Thrush, 22 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Stonechat, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Linnet, 9 Goldfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, 3 Yellowhammer and 8 Reed Bunting. A walk around this morning from 6am in dull cloudy conditions with rain produced 15 Mute Swan, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, c100 Herring Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechat, 4 Bullfinch, 1 Siskin, 2 Yellowhammer and 13 Reed Bunting. It was also very pleasing to see some fresh Beaver activity on the trees and find a couple of Badger setts in the area. Recording Saturday night was generally quiet with 2 Water Rail and a Little Grebe of note. 


Common Scoter






Yellowhammer 


Chiffchaff


Friday 15 March 2024

With migration underway now and a few recording sessions this week at night coinciding with light winds a few birds were noted including another Avocet on Monday night along with Wigeon (89) and 2 Water Rail. My first singing Chiffchaff was heard Wednesday morning as I collected the recorder from the night before which was quiet but recording Wednesday night produced more Wigeon over along with Brent Geese (90) and a probable Long eared Owl. Tawny Owl along with Teal were also noted during the week. All in all, a pretty good week for 'nocmig' and hopefully a few more good birds to be had if the weather allows. 


Avocet


Wigeon 


Brent Geese


Probable Long eared Owl




Monday 11 March 2024

Last week started off well when an Avocet (86) was recorded flying over Nethergong at 03:00, a very scarce bird here with only a couple of records recorded during the night. Saturday dawned with beautiful sunshine and no wind and I made the most of the weather with a good walk around starting at 05:45. Birds noted included 28 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Coot, 2 Lapwing, c180 Black headed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Gull, c68 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black backed Gull, 66 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Common Buzzard, 3 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Peregrine, 6 Skylark, 1 Chiffchaff (87) heard calling and seen well, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Long tailed Tit, 84 Starling, 7 Song Thrush, 15 Redwing, 82 Fieldfare, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, 2 Corn Bunting (88) were seen flying over Chislet Court Farm, 3 Yellowhammer and 6 Reed Bunting. 'Nocmig' recording on a few nights other than the Avocet was pretty quiet except for a Tawny Owl and a Water Rail. 
Sunday in contrast was horrible with most of the session spent walking around in heavy rain not seeing that much. birds noted included 33 Mute Swan, 1 Water Rail, 2 Coot, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Mediterranean Gull still in fields, 83 Herring Gull, 114 Cormorant, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 1 Raven, 2 Skylark, 5 Cetti's Warbler, 150 Starling, 15 Redwing, 60 Fieldfare, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 13 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 3 Yellowhammer and 8 Reed Bunting. 


Avocet





Long tailed Tit 







Yellowhammer