Sunday October 30

 As the clocks went back I joined Dave for another bash around Morton Bagot. The weather continues unseasonably mild, and there was complete cloud cover for the whole morning along with a fresh southerly breeze.

There was some evidence of Woodpigeon movement first thing, and I counted 460 before the flocks dried up. The visit proved to be a bit of a damp squib. We saw two pairs of Stonechats, about 50 Redwings, and I glimpsed a probable Peregrine as it slipped off one of the masts. The flash field contained just 16 Teal, and 19 Lapwings, before we emerged from the hedge to find that even they had disappeared.

Lapwing flying in

Stonechat

Fortunately I had a plan B. It had been pointed out to me that the sailing from late morning at Upper Bittell sometimes disturbs the ducks there, causing them to head for Lower Bittell.

I arrived at the lower reservoir to find things much as I'd left them in the week. The Whooper Swan seems to have settled in, and there were small numbers of duck including 17 Gadwall, and 26 Tufted Duck. I hung around for an hour hoping for some arrivals, and there were a couple of encouraging signs. At one point an adult Yellow-legged Gull appeared and swooped at an adult Peregrine. Perhaps the falcon would spook the duck on Upper.

Whooper Swan

Yellow-legged Gull

The same Yellow-legged Gull

As the clouds rolled in, a party of eight duck flew around, but they appeared to be Wigeon. Shortly afterwards a roll of thunder persuaded me to head back, and as I reached the car the heavens opened and it bucketed down.

So Pochard remains off the list.

I put the trap out and caught eight moths of five species including three Merveille du Jours, two Rush-veneers, and a Red-line Quaker which was first of the year. While emptying the trap and subsequently going to the paper shop an impressive 556 Woodpigeons headed south in about 30 minutes.

Thursday October 27 - Another jammy tick

Once the early morning rain had subsided I headed back to Lower Bittell Reservoir for another shot at the Pochard. It remains unseasonably mild, and the grey clouds largely dissuaded me from getting the camera out.

I reached the usual spot on the canal bank, strolling past a very tame drake Mandarin on the way, and started scanning the reservoir. The Whooper Swan was still present, in exactly the same spot. However, it soon became apparent that there were fewer ducks than on my last visit, and crucially no Pochard.

Passerines were flying over regularly, identified on call; Redpoll, a party of Siskins, 25 Fieldfares which were moving purposefully east, and a few Redwings. At some point I heard what I took to be another Redwing, and after delaying for a couple of seconds dragged myself away from the scope to look up. To my complete surprise the only bird I could see was a large chunky finch with a strongly undulating flight. There was a flick of white in the wings and I realised it was a Hawfinch. I quickly took in the short tail and swung my scope around to try to get onto it as it continued eastwards (in my tweet I said south, but since looking at a map I have realised the dam faces east/west). I couldn't relocate it though.

I cannot be 100% sure that the "seep" call I heard was made by the bird and not by a passing Redwing, but they do make a Redwing-like call, so it probably was. Although I wish I'd looked up a couple of seconds earlier, its incredibly lucky that I glanced up at all as I was fully expecting to see just a Redwing.

I set out to walk around the roads which circle most of Lower Bittell, and then decided to head up to the Upper reservoir, which is outside my circular "patch" with the intention of seeing the Tundra Bean Goose which I have been ignoring since it first turned up in August. 

I found two Bittell stalwarts, Chris T and Rob W, and large numbers of ducks and gulls. Eventually around 100 geese flew in, but the Bean Goose wasn't with them. Chris picked out an adult Yellow-legged Gull, and Rob drew my attention to that pesky Pochard feeding distantly and showing no signs of wanting to head to Lower Bittell. The female Pintail I saw on Tuesday was also present. It's clear that Upper Bittell is far superior to Lower Bittell for birds.

On the way back it started to drizzle a bit, and I thought I'd better get the camera out to make sure this wasn't an unillustrated post.

All the swans in this shot are Mutes

Anyway, the #LocalBigYear list has now advanced to 138 species, and I'm closing in on my target 140.

Tuesday October 25 - over thinking it

 My #LocalBigYear list making is starting to get a bit obsessive. Late yesterday afternoon I was tipped off that there was a Pochard at Lower Bittell. The part of me which was saying go there immediately was trumped by a little voice saying it's only a Pochard, there'll be another one.

I also had another plan in mind. A few days ago Dave Jackson recorded a Hawfinch flying over his garden in Redditch. Tardebigge church sometimes attracts Hawfinches, its half term (possibly), so the school there should be quiet. This could be the day to go.

The upshot was that I went to Tardebigge. School children were playing in the school, roofers were noisily roofing and my chances of finding a Hawfinch shrank from negligible to no chance. I did however locate a Chiffchaff as minor compensation. A flock of 40 Fieldfares heading west was the only evidence of visible migration.

I also walked to the reservoir which was fisherman free, and with the cats away, the mice were playing. In this case nine Goosanders (my first of the autumn) and 11 Cormorants. The Tufted Duck flock had expanded to 20 birds.

All nine

A closer look

I still had Lower Bittell up my sleeve, and so I went there next. It wasn't bad at all, but the Pochard was missing. As compensation I discovered that the Whooper Swan was still present, and also located a female Pintail which I didn't know was there. I've since found out it was seen at the weekend.

Whooper Swan

Pintail

Without official access its very difficult to watch Lower Bittell well enough to see everything. My Tufted Duck count rose from 15 (from the canal towpath) to 28 when I sneaked down the access drive to the gate. There are quite a few blind spots.

Other birds present included 10 Shovelers, eight Gadwall, 25 Mute Swans, four Wigeon, two Teal and 15 Little Grebes plus an unknown number of wildfowl which were out of view.

Further attempts to see this Pochard seem inevitable. 

Sunday October 23 - Morton Bagot Merlin

 Heavy rain was predicted for this morning and it very nearly scuppered a planned Morton Bagot visit. Fortunately we decided that the torrential rain would stop and braved the flooded roads to get to the site. I arrived to find Dave sitting in his vehicle, and for 30 minutes we had no other option. 

However, it did clear through, and the next hour was an excellent one. Numerous flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares were flying over, along with an Egret sp (probably Little) which caused some discussion. I counted 15 Blackbirds in the hedgerows around Netherstead, and we were sure these, and several Song Thrushes, included continental immigrants.

The morning's highlight came when I heard Dave say "what's this coming towards us?" The urgency in his voice proved well founded as I got onto a falcon heading our way, it banked as it got closer and although it was hard to pick out much colour against the lead grey sky, the relatively short tail and pointed wing tips combined with its small size all pointed to Merlin. The first I have seen here for over 10 years. 

The question was, do I keep looking at it, or try for a photo which would probably be blurred and inconclusive. I opted for the former course of action. I thought I could see a dark tip to its tail which would make it a male, but the light was against us. As it disappeared across the field at a steady rate I tried for some kind of record shot. 

Merlin (honest!)

I'm not sure that the photo proves much either way, but we both had no doubt about the identification. This was #LocalBigYear tick number 137. 

Shortly after the event it started to rain again, but only drizzle this time. We entered the old pool field and noticed that some of the scrapes were accumulating water. We probably need a lot more rain before they are fit for purpose.

The corner of the field contained a lot of passerine activity including three Stonechats, 25 Chaffinches, 50 Goldfinches and several Redwings and Reed Buntings. More thrushes flew over, and during the morning we also recorded small numbers of Siskins and Redpolls.

The flash field now contains plenty of water and has been populated by at least 44 Teal, 40 Mallard, 21 Lapwings, two Snipe, and a Green Sandpiper. Dave spotted a couple of Pipits as they flew towards the furthest flash, but they remained presumed Meadow Pipits and didn't show again.

Four species in this shot (the Grey Wagtail is the hard one to see)

Green Sandpiper

Redwing

We had not a single summer migrant today, and there is no doubt that autumn has arrived.

Thursday to Friday October 20 - 21 - Earlswood rarities

 I'll start this post with yesterday afternoon's twitch to Earlswood. It was a "mum" day, so naturally a bird turned up which I needed for my #LocalBigYear list. Well, actually three birds, specifically three Common Scoters.

I arrived at about 14.30 to find the finder John Oates watching the birds on Terry's Pool. 

Common Scoters

Very nice too. I left fellow twitchers Janet and Ashley to enjoy them and scurried back home.

This morning I had decided to visit Earlswood again, and as I got into the car the phone alerted me to a first for Earlswood (for everyone). It was John Oates again and the birds were a pair of RCPs.

So I arrived and scanned the Engine Pool for the birds in question. If you haven't worked it out, I was looking for a pair of Red-crested Pochards. 

Red-crested Pochards

The massive irony is that I saw the species at Arrow Valley Lake in May (the first for there), so I've now seen three RCPs and no Common Pochards in my recording area this year.

The Engine Pool has been further drained leaving an ample shoreline. Unfortunately wader passage has largely ended, so it was left to 18 Teal to make the most of the new feeding opportunities. There were the usual gulls and geese, plus two first-winter Common Gulls.

Common Gull

Now that I am retired I spoke to other birders of my generation and beyond, including John S, Janet, John C, Tony P, and John O, all enjoying the tick.

We were obviously hoping the Red-crested Pochards would stay, and they looked pretty settled swimming around the middle of Engine Pool. But looks were deceptive, and though no-one saw them actually go, they could not be found after 9.30am.

I wandered to Terry's Pool logging at least 17 Shovelers, and 15 Tufted Ducks before the rain set in. About 100 Woodpigeons, and 30 or so Redwings were evidence that some onward passage was taking place, and I also heard a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits before a Brambling called as it flew west.

Sadly the rain really pepped up, and although it eased a bit by late morning, a further pulse had me packing up without visiting Windmill Pool or seeing anything else of any significance.

Come nightfall I decided to put my garden moth trap out. Within a couple of hours the rain had returned and I shut it down. It contained four moths, including a Merveille du Jour and my first Black Rustic for a couple of years. By 10 pm the rain had stopped and I decided to resume mothing. The following morning (Saturday morning) it contained 13 moths of eight species, the best being a Grey Shoulder-knot (nfy), and a Large Wainscot (second for garden and for year).

Wednesday October 19 - the dam bursts

 At last some easterly winds have turned the ignition key for proper autumn. I was caught more unawares than I should have been. Tweets showing radar images of green and red blobs over the Low Countries yesterday evening were said to show a huge volume of birds taking off, and coming this way.

So I have little excuse for a relatively late breakfast and walk to the shop. There was no obvious activity at 08.45, and by 10.00am I was chatting away on the phone. Around that time I noticed a Whatsapp report of thrushes moving over Hollywood (near Wythall), and a few minutes later saw a few flying past the window. 

Finally I donned my bins and stepped out of the front door. I'm not sure what the neighbours made of my antics for the next hour as I logged flight after flight of thrushes, mostly Redwings flying south and west. Some were barely visible to the naked eye, but most were picked up that way, or by their "seep" calls.

After an hour from 10.15 to 11.15 I had logged about 1200 birds. 

My sister and brother-in-law arrived for a pre-arranged coffee, so there was a break until 12.30 when I managed to resume. Birds were still moving, but this time I only had 30 minutes to spare. The highlight was a calling Brambling, the first from the garden for about ten years.

The full list was:

Skylark 5

Redwing 1332

Fieldfare 101

Song Thrush 1

Grey Wagtail 1

Pied Wagtail 1

Meadow Pipit 1

Chaffinch 5

Brambling 1

Siskin 5

Which all goes to show that given the right conditions you can have a fantastic birding experience without even leaving the garden.

Mind you, if this had been a proper birding day and I had given it the attention it deserved, a visit to any of the higher parts of the area for the whole morning would probably have been eye-wateringly good.

Tuesday October 18 - the competitive streak

 A competitive streak is probably not a good thing to have if you're a birder. Far better to be a dispassionate observer, unconcerned about lists and the like. But I can't help myself. Even though this #LocalBigYear thing is entirely a competition with myself, and this is the inaugural year so there isn't even a previous year's total to aim at, I still find myself working out how many I might get and setting targets.

The target in my head has developed from "I'll probably see between 130 to 140 species" to an aspiration of 140 species. This is based on my best ever year (2019) at Morton Bagot bringing me 122 species and factoring in the additional habitats available within 10km of our house.

This morning I was on 135 species and reflecting on what I still need and what I've missed. I think I have two that I'm very confident of getting; Pochard and Goldeneye. Surely Lower Bittell or Earlswood will get those this autumn. Birds missed include Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit, both now unlikely to reappear until next spring.

There are still at least half a dozen realistic possibilities, and even more unrealistic ones to keep me on tenterhooks until the end of the year. It's got to the stage of targeting habitat with these possibilities in mind.

This morning I went to Spernal STW (or at least the footpath along the Arrow which skirts its eastern edge). The species in mind was Yellow-browed Warbler. It's never had one, and probably never will, but it gets wintering Chiffchaffs so never say never.

It was a lovely sunny morning with barely any wind. Ideal for checking the willows and sycamores for small passerines. Skylarks were on the move, and I arrived at the Haydon Wood carpark to find a host of Starlings on the pylon above. I counted 170 of them while really checking for Rosy Starling. Obviously there were none of those.

But as I started the walk along the river I heard a parrot-like call. Looking east, into the sun, I spotted two long-tailed parakeets heading south. There is only one species of Parakeet on the British List. The Rose-ringed Parakeet abounds in the London area, and now in Birmingham, and I need it for the year list.

But there was a snag. Quite apart from the fact that the views were totally silhouetted, the call I had heard didn't sound quite right (although it might have been), and one of the parakeets was appreciably larger than the other. This could be sexual dimorphism, or perhaps one was some other type of Parakeet. Maybe they both were. 

So until I find them again, they'll have to remain unidentified Parakeets. Drat.

The rest of the morning passed pleasantly, but without incident. I heard a singing Chiffchaff, counted a remarkable eight Song Thrushes in a hedge, noticed five Redwings overhead, a few Siskins and not a lot else.

Joe at Earlswood had a Great White Egret flying over this morning, which reminded me to keep an eye open for herons.

Grey Herons

Little Egret

So another punt falls short. I'll just have to hope that good fortune shines on me another day.

Sunday October 16 - Morton Bagot

 A sunny morning with barely a breathe of wind. Ideal for getting the camera out, but the rarities stayed away. I should have gone to Grimley perhaps (a Wryneck was photographed there this morning.)

Anyway, Dave and I spent the morning at Morton Bagot counting at least six Stonechats and the usual Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, and other common early autumn fodder.

Stonechat

Meadow Pipits

The blueness of the sky made small birds passing overhead almost invisible, although I did get onto a Siskin by randomly scanning above me as it flew south calling.

The lack of water is continuing to disappoint. We manage one Snipe and one Green Sandpiper on the nearest flash. The local waterfowl are having to resort to desperate measures. Two Teal were disturbed from the garden pond at the end of the access road, and a Grey Heron continues to stalk prey in the weedy field, no doubt hoping to catch a vole or mouse.

Grey Heron

We ended up scanning the blooming ivy in the hedgerows, sifting through loads of Honey Bees and Wasps in the hope of seeing an Ivy Bee. I managed just one.

I'm hoping that by this time next week the main arrival of Redwings will be underway.

Saturday October 15 - tick 'n run

 Once you commit yourself to a year list, even an #LocalBigYear, you have to accept that birds will come to your notice at awkward moments.

Today I had just returned from Shirley with my Mum, and was preparing lunch for the three of us when my phone pinged. Josh Toogood was letting me know that a Whooper Swan had been found at Lower Bittell Res this morning.

I hurriedly switched to "anxious face", and Lyn and my mum knew lunch would be delayed. But not by much. Josh's excellent info meant I knew exactly where to park, where to stride to (I don't really do running any more), and where the bird should be viewed from.

Whooper Swan

So this was about as efficient a twitch as it was possible to do. I was back in the house, equilibrium restored, within 40 minutes.

It's not really birding, but a tick's a tick. I think it might even be a Bittell tick.

Thursday October 13 - Tardebigge area

A mild, sunny October morning tempted me to give Tardebigge another go. I had devised a circular route beginning and ending at Tardebigge church, and taking in the reservoir. I think it was a pretty decent plan, and deserved more success than it got.

The churchyard famously hosted Hawfinches last winter (and in previous ones) but I had failed to connect. I was probably too early in the winter, but there were enough Chaffinches and Greenfinches feeding on the Yews to keep me interested. Eventually I left the churchyard and walked along the road passed High House Farm. Several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits called as they flew over, and I broke my winter thrush duck as six Redwings hurried south. I also heard a Siskin.

Once I reached the reservoir I saw it was heavily disturbed by fishermen but still contained the usual Mallard, Black-headed Gulls, and Great Crested Grebes (three). At least the Tufted Duck count had risen slightly to 17. 

Walking back along the canal it occurred to me that I still hadn't found anything worth photographing, so when the second Chiffchaff of the day was found flicking around in a large sallow, I was tempted to give it a go.

Chiffchaff

Not my best effort. 

There was a Yellow-browed Warbler in north Warwickshire yesterday. One day maybe I'll focus on one around here.

Tuesday October 9 - Mostly Lower Bittell

 For me, October has been pretty disappointing so far. This is entirely typical of birding in the Midlands, but somehow I allow my expectations to rise to unrealistic levels. I haven't even seen or heard a Redwing yet.

My latest throw of the dice was to visit Lower Bittell Reservoir. I parked at Alvechurch Fishing Pools, and had a nice surprise when I spotted a drake Mandarin on the canal. It was accompanying a couple of Mallard and was similarly unphased by my close proximity.

Mandarin 

Further along the towpath I was able to scope the reservoir, and to establish that I was not going to find either a Pochard nor a Goldeneye (both on my shopping list of birds I need for the #LocalBigYear list). There didn't even appear to be any Tufted Ducks.

Nevertheless there was a good quantity of wildfowl present. Mostly Mallard, but also two Gadwall, nine Shovelers, six Teal, and three Wigeon. More impressive, numbers-wise, were 33 Mute Swans, 40 Moorhens, 20 Little Grebes, and seven Great Crested Grebes. Herons were represented by four Grey Herons and a Little Egret which flew in. 

No Redwings flew over, but the blue sky wasn't helpful for visible migration. I recorded a Skylark and a couple of Meadow Pipits. 

I decided to head for Morton Bagot in the hope of seeing and photographing the Willow Emerald Damselfly. Sadly, it was a no show, and the only birds on the flash field were two Green Sandpipers and a Snipe.

Things can only get better...surely.

Sunday October 9 - Morton Bagot

 I was ten minutes later than normal at the patch, and was pleased to see Dave checking the pool at the end of the Netherstead access road as I prepared to pull in. It turned out he had been watching a Kingfisher which reappeared for me, and had heard a possible "odd" Cetti's Warbler. The latter, whatever it was, failed to sub-sing again, and Dave consigned to the file marked "not certain". They occur very close to the site, and I'm sure it won't be long.

The weather was ideal for visible migration, but as we were walking the usual circuit our counts suffered accordingly. Our minimum figures were 52 Meadow Pipits, eight Skylarks, and four Chaffinches. So no suggestion that continental migrants are reaching us yet.

Bush watching produced a maximum of nine Stonechats, three Blackcaps, and two Chiffchaffs. A Marsh Tit showed at close range, but was also annoyingly skulking for much of the time.

Marsh Tit

There remains very little standing water on the site, and we managed only five Snipe and a Green Sandpiper in the flash field. Some distant flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese flying west were just too distant to allow us to identify a smaller goose flying with them (it may just have been a Greylag with Canadas).

I hate to say this, but we need a month of torrential rain.

Overnight I put the trap out and caught 18 moths of nine species. No garden ticks this time, but there were two nice ones which were new for the year; the splendid Merveille du Jour, and more workmanlike Brindled Green.

Merveille du Jour

Brindled Green

Friday October 7 - Earlswood Lakes

 I hadn't spent any time at Earlswood (apart from twitching it) lately, so decided to pay a visit today. The weather remains uninspiring; westerly and mild, so I had no great expectations. It was just as well.

I did at least walk around all three lakes. Windmill Pool was the most productive. A loose party of a dozen upending Shovelers was near the dam, and two more were present at the south end. A Little Egret flew in and proceeded to the south-west corner. I missed the chance to have a good look at the Common Sandpiper when it was flushed by a dog-walker to the western edge, but the wing-bar raised no alarms. Three Teal were also feeding in the south-west corner.

Little Egret

Distant Common Sandpiper

Teal

I got to the causeway seeing the first of three Chiffchaffs, and a Swallow, and then hearing a calling Green Sandpiper. So there's still not much sign of autumn where I'm concerned.

On Engine Pool I located two juvenile Little Grebes, one by the shingle bank and one by one of the man-made islands, and counted six Cormorants. I couldn't see anything unusual among the gulls, but I hear a Yellow-legged Gull was seen after I left.

Little Grebe

Later on, a Raven and 37 Goldfinches flew over the causeway.

Walking around Terry's Pool added a handful of Tufted Ducks, three Grey Herons, and a Kingfisher before I spent several minutes watching various garden birds and a Brown Rat feeding on seeds at the stump.

Who can resist a tame Robin

So no real surprises, but still a nice place to spend a morning.

And I nearly forgot. A couple of days earlier I was obliged to drag a bag of old mulch out of the shed and in doing so disturbed a small moth. It followed me out of the shed and perched on the nearest plant. I knew immediately that I hadn't seen one before, and rushed to get my camera. I returned in time to see it jump onto the camera, then on to me, and then fly away.

Fortunately I had an idea that it was one of the flat-body micro moths called Agonopterix and it was so distinctive that on turning to the right page in my field guide I spotted it immediately. Agonopterix alstromeriana, a common species which can be seen in the autumn and is known to hibernate. So no photograph, but a high enough confidence level for a tick.

Tuesday October 4 - Wootton Pool

 This morning's weather was a bit blaaah. Too cloudy for insect hunting, too westerly to encourage any thoughts of rarities, and too windy for looking for passerines or visible migration. I struggled for motivation, so decided to go to Wootton Pool just because I hadn't been there for a while.

I don't like the place because its so hard to view, but this morning it punched well above its weight. I had barely got out of the car when I noticed two geese approaching. I got on the first one and was astonished to see it was a Pink-footed Goose. This species seems to be following me around recently. The other goose was probably a Greylag, and the Pink-foot started calling and banked away from its pal to make another circuit of the field. As I finally got my camera out, it disappeared behind the trees bordering the pool.

I hurried to the only place it is possible to see any water, but failed to relocate it. Instead I counted seven Mute Swans, 32 Mallard, a Tufted Duck, two Little Grebes, seven Great Crested Grebes, and nine Coot. I can't rule out the possibility that the goose was there somewhere, but the viewing options are awful.

Eventually I wandered to the north of the pool and found a flock of 187 Linnets and eight Greenfinches feeding in the stubble. Another attempt to view the pool added nothing, but the next field had a few gulls on it including a first-winter Common Gull, only the second I've seen locally this year.

Common Gull with BHGs

I decided to drive to the weir because sometimes geese build up there. This produced no geese but some bonus fly-overs, a Red Kite and a Little Egret.

For the next hour I took a circuitous route home, vaguely looking for fields of cattle (there was a Cattle Egret at Salford Priors Gravel Pit on Sunday). Needless to say I didn't add to my Egret list, but I did stop at the big field at Middletown where I was pleased to discover 88 Golden Plovers.

So even the most unpromising of days can produce the goods.

Sunday October 2 - Morton Bagot tick (but its not a bird)

 A sunny and rather mild morning signalled another visit to my patch. It seemed as though summer was reluctant to let go today. I accumulated a solid six Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs, five Swallows, and at least seven House Martins with other hirundines visible but not identifiable high in the sky towards Studley.

Blackcap, typically hard to see let alone photograph

With blue skies above, it was hard to keep a track of any visible migration. The usual Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, and Chaffinches made themselves known, plus single Redpoll and Siskin, both of which were only heard.

Meadow Pipit

The pool field is much the same, but I did count at least six Stonechats as might be expected at this time of year.

Stonechat

At the flash field the only new arrival was a juvenile Cormorant standing on the edge of the furthest flash, the only one with any water in it. I counted eight Teal, two Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, and 15 Lapwings. 

I should mention that Tony was ringing again, focusing on Meadow Pipits. He ringed 66 birds of 12 species as follows:

Blue Tit 7

Great Tit 4

Long-tailed Tit 10

Chiffchaff 3

Blackcap 9

Goldcrest 2

Wren 1

Robin 1

Dunnock 2

Meadow Pipit 24

Lesser Redpoll 1

Reed Bunting 2

The stand out birds are the good count of Blackcaps which were probably additional to my six, and the Lesser Redpoll which was his first of the season.

Lesser Redpoll - Tony K

At this point it was getting quite warm and I resumed my search for the Willow Emerald Damselfly seen by Sam two weeks ago. To my complete surprise I found it. Morton Bagot tick! It popped up onto a branch of a dead tree which had been daubed in blue paint presumably because it's scheduled for the chop (talk about X marks the spot). I had a couple of seconds to admire its long narrow dark abdomen, its large white pterostigma (the cell on the tips of the wings), and its clear wings spread delta shaped away from its body. It would make a great shot. I glanced down at my camera to check it was on, looked up and...it had gone. I spent the next hour fruitlessly trying to relocate it.

Other dragonflies were available; Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Common Darters, but no sign of the damselfly. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

A consolation Southern Hawker

Red Admiral

The moth trap went out and although the temperature fell to 6 degrees C overnight I caught 21 moths of 10 species. More importantly one was new for the garden (and me) Large Wainscot, and three were new for the year; Barred Sallow, Red-green Carpet, and Beaded Chestnut. 

Large Wainscot

Beaded Chestnut (2nd for garden)

It's great to still be getting new garden macro-moths. The Large Wainscot is described as local and uncommon in Larger Moths of Warwickshire.

Saturday October 1 - Earlswood, Rock Pipit twitch

 The main reason I had been visiting Tardebigge Reservoir this week was the hope of finding a Rock Pipit there. It looks ideal for one, but doesn't have the track record of Earlswood. The other thing it didn't have was heavy rain, or at least not by the time I left. 

Later on, during yesterday afternoon, the rain arrived, and so did a Rock Pipit. But not at Tardebigge (as far as I know), it was found by Matt Griffiths on his patch at Earlswood Lakes. I got a message yesterday evening as I was watching the cricket and cooking the dinner. Too inconvenient.

So I got up this morning to find another message, this time confirming its continued presence. I headed off straight away and joined Matt and John S who had been watching the bird. It was not in view at first, but then flew in front of us to alight on another part of the causeway where it walked along the concrete and periodically disappeared into the bordering grass strip.

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Although Rock Pipits are almost annual at Earlswood, my only experience of them within the Circle has been two fly overs at Morton Bagot. Seeing one on the ground was something I haven't experienced for some time.