Sunday October 23

With Dave choosing to return to Flamborough to try to find rarities on the latest batch of north-easterlies, I was left to attempt to turn something up at Morton Bagot.

The morning was cloudy and cool throughout, with a north-easterly gradually increasing in strength resulting in birds accumulating in the lee of south-west facing hedges.

The first hour was especially lively, with finches all over the place, and regular flocks of winter thrushes heading west. A party of 20 Redpolls flew around, and then a great surge of pigeons and Jackdaws heralded the appearance of an immature Peregrine.

So, overhead passage comprised 245 Fieldfares, 134 Redwings, and 80 Starlings. There was a big increase in finches, with 250 Linnets, and 70 Goldfinches in the ridge field. A few Siskins flew over, and when I did managed to see Redpolls perching up, they were all thought to be Lesser Redpolls.

Lesser Redpoll

Pigeon totals reached a minimum of 70 Stock Doves and 120 Woodpigeons. At least three Stonechats perched on hedges and fences, and a Grey Wagtail was still around.

Stonechat

Moving on to the pool, I was surprised to see that the Little Grebe had returned, apparently undeterred by the fact it was diving in little more than a large puddle. The flash field contained two Green Sandpipers, three Snipe, 33 Teal, and 50 Greylag Geese.

So quite entertaining, but not quite Flamborough.