We're now firmly at the back end of autumn and December beckons. I've been out twice this week, concentrating on new areas of my circular "patch". Having probably targeted the more promising areas over the last two winters, I am now left with the gaps. Places I don't like the look of, but which have to be visited if I'm serious about birding in every square kilometre of the Circle.
On Tuesday it was Tidbury Green, an area north of Earlswood where suburban sprawl meets farmland. It was cloudy to begin with, and distinctly wet for the last hour. There were no highlights, but I suppose I can pick out a pair of Coots on a small balancing lake at the new Tidbury Heights estate, and a female Kestrel along the roadside between Dickens Heath and Earlswood.
 |
| Kestrel |
Today was a bright and sunny morning. My destination was Webheath, where once upon a long time ago a Black-throated Thrush (from Siberia) gloriously proved that anything could turn up anywhere.
I walked from there almost as far as Tardebigge Church, through Banks Green. Nothing even remotely the calibre of the famous thrush popped up in front of me, although I did have a bit luck (good and bad) as a Common Crossbill, my third this autumn, flew over a small plantation near Brotherton Wood. The bad luck was that it was very high, and once again I failed to actually see it. It's a good job the call is distinctive.
 |
| Common Buzzard |
 |
| Redwing |
Despite the sunshine I struggled to find much to illustrate this post. At least it was another gap plugged.
Maybe you should have worn a bright yellow coat, so the rarities think What The ....?
ReplyDeleteI clearly need to rethink my camouflage policy. Yellow and orange are the colours of autumn 😄
Delete