Tuesday August 11

A sunny day with a very light westerly breeze.

This was a pretty typical early autumn evening visit. Several warblers hid amongst Reed Buntings and Goldfinches in the hedgerow bordering the pool. A red-tailed passerine, presumably a Redstart, flushed ahead of me and then disappeared.

At the Flashes the air was filled with the calls of Green Sandpipers, but after half an hour of scrutiny and counts and recounts, I had to accept the sum total was 10 Green Sandpipers, five Snipe, three Teal, and 25 Lapwings.

The pool I referred to earlier is now definitely just a glorified puddle as this image testifies.

The sunset was pretty though.

Saturday August 8

A largely sunny morning with a very light southerly breeze.

You may be aware that I take part in the Patchwork Challenge, a nationwide competition for patchworkers to see as many species in a year as possible. I was taking stock last night and observed that I have seen just about all of the passerine species I am likely to see before the late autumn kicks in. Any ticks are more likely to come from water birds.

So naturally I then spent almost the whole of this morning staring into trees watching passerines. No wonder I'm off the pace.

The calm conditions and abundance of small birds was just too tempting, and I did winkle  out a few notable birds. The plantation by Netherstead provided a Willow Warbler and about four Siskins along with lots of tits, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

Taking the route along the road I quickly discovered the first of two Spotted Flycatchers. It was quite flighty and I just managed one record shot.

Spotted Flycatcher

Further along the road I heard Blackbirds mobbing something, which turned out to be a Common Buzzard.

Common Buzzard

Birds of prey are another group which could potentially contribute to the yearlist, but it will take a good bird.

I finally reached the pool, now just a puddle, and also the flash field. This contained 12 Green Sandpipers and 40 Lapwings. Even the Teal have gone.

It could be a long two months before the winter visitors reappear.

Friday August 7

Not birding today.

But a Crossbill flew north over Winyates East at 09.15 when I was walking back from the paper shop. 50 yards short of being a garden tick, but a result nonetheless.

Thursday 6 August

A cloudy start with frequent showers and a light southerly breeze. It warmed up considerably when the sun came out.

I began by spending quite a while on the Netherstead access road, below the plantation as there were a lot of small birds around. Among these I started to notice calls which sounded like they were being made by Siskins, and eventually I confirmed the presence of at least one juvenile. It disappeared before I could get a record shot. After chatting to Maggie and another lady, both of whom live in the barn conversions, I headed for the wetland areas intent on sketching Green Sandpipers.

After good views of two on the pool, I found a further nine on the flash field. So plenty of opportunities to get sketching.

As usual there were few other waders present, just a Snipe and 54 Lapwings. Teal numbers are still creeping up, they now number five. A Little Owl called, but I couldn't see it. I also had a brief, and distant view of a probable Whinchat.

After returning to my car, I decided to pause on the access road, and quickly located two juvenile Siskins. Unfortunately the light was against me, so the photographic record of the event is a bit ropey.

The two Siskins against the sky.

The heavily streaked back and crown is shown here

These birds are only the second and third here this year. Very unusual to see them in late summer and in juvenile plumage. The species is prone to occasional bumper winters, so these early records may herald a good winter for them.

Keep watching the feeders at the barn conversions.

Tuesday 4 August

This evening's visit to the patch can best be described as quiet.

So I am particularly grateful to Jim Winsper and John Coombes who have independently contacted me to suggest the same identification for the big fish. It is a Grass Carp which is a native of south-east Asia but is often introduced into pools to munch away at the vegetation. As a herbivore (can fish be herbivores?) it is exonerated as a potential culprit in any reduction in dragonfly larvae in the pool.

Anyway, back to this evening. Just before I turned into the access road at Netherstead I noticed a brood of Tufted Ducks on the small pool on the opposite side of the road.

The original brood at the other end of the site was down to two ducklings and no sign of the parent at the weekend, so it will be interesting to see if these birds gain better protection from their mother.

Apart from that, the Teal count has tripled (there are now three!), and Green Sandpipers number at least seven, and possibly 10. I saw four on the main pool, which I accidentally flushed, and then six on the flashes, followed by one back on the main pool as I walked back.

I said it was quiet.

Local bird news

It's Monday Aug 3 and I have had a text from John Coombes to say he saw a Marsh Harrier flying over Coughton Lane towards Coughton Court at 10.30am.

This is a great find for John.

Sunday August 2

Ah! August at last. Although birds have been trickling back south for a month, the deluge starts this month.

Not today though. Dave and I walked around scrutinising every bird in every bush (or so it felt) to come up with 16 Whitethroats, five Lesser Whitethroats, a Sedge Warbler, two Blackcaps, and a Reed Warbler, all probably Morton Bagot locals.

A couple of Sand Martins which flew south with three Swallows were probably migrants, and there were still at least 15 Swifts jinking after insects high in the sky.

The flash contained a Teal, 28 Lapwings, and eight Green Sandpipers.

The day's highlight was a fish! At the dragonfly pools the largest and deepest pool contained a single large fish. We had no idea what it was, but it was about two feet long, and attractively patterned. At the time we were guessing at Crucian Carp, but since getting back I am wondering if it was a Chub. The snout looks a bit funny though, possibly distorted by refraction.

Fish sp

If any anglers are reading this and know what it is, I'd be pleased to hear from you. How it got into the pool is anyone's guess, but it's presence might explain the shortage of dragonflies this year.

So with no birds to show you I thought I'd better produce my first attempt at an oil painting, which I finished last night.

Snipe at Morton Bagot