Friday September 30

A largely sunny morning with a light to moderate south-westerly breeze.

This being the last day of September, it is the calm before the storm of the shooting season, which starts here tomorrow. On the plus side the gamekeeper was telling me that the Pheasant shoots and dog-training are to be restricted to October this year, and the days to avoid are Saturdays, with some shooting on adjacent land on Fridays. It could be a lot worse.

The story of the morning was the steady trickle of Meadow Pipits, a few of which paused on their migration. The final tally was a respectable 91. There are also still plenty of hirundines around, with at least 14 House Martins and 20 Swallows taking the chance to snack on insects before they head south.

Meadow Pipits

Also around Netherstead was a single Stonechat, six alba Wagtails (two of which were definitely Pieds, and the remainder may well have been), a Blackcap, and three Chiffchaffs.

Stonechat

Over at the pool and flash field I counted 11 Green Sandpipers, 10 Snipe, 42 Teal, and a Little Grebe. No doubt they'll make themselves scarce when the shooting disturbance starts.

A couple of indications that autumn is here were a single Redpoll over Netherstead, and seven Siskins over Stapenhill Wood.

There were noticeably high numbers of Hornets buzzing about, and dragonflies consisted of several Common Darters and a Migrant Hawker.

Hornet

Migrant Hawker

Finally, I have to report that the Woodpigeon seems to have come to his senses, and is no longer trying to incubate a stone in the car-park.