Friday 5 November 2021

Lesser Redpolls

 Lade  - mild, dry and sunny, NW2 - First stop this morning was the local patch where the highlight was three Lesser Redpolls feeding in the birch tree by the ponds that showed really well in the bright sunshine for all of five minutes before flying off inland. A couple of Bramblings `wheezed` overhead along with a trickle of Skylarks and Chaffinches, plus Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler in the sallows, a Marsh Harrier quartering the south lake reedbed and several Water Rails vocalising from the willow swamp. Wildfowl numbers on both lakes continue to low.

                                 Kestrel atop the VC roof

Moving on to Dungeness where a few bits and pieces were dropping in and out of the old lighthouse garden including Redwings, Blackbirds, Robins, Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a Black Redstart. A Green Sandpiper flew around calling aimlessly while a few more Skylarks and Redpolls passed overhead unseen. The sea was quiet with just the usual passing Gannets and Sandwich Terns, while a Peregrine was active by the pylons. On the way off the estate a Woodcock flew low over the beach having just arrived from across the Channel/North Sea. On the bird reserve Burrowes attracted two each of Black-necked Grebe and Goldeneye, five Pintails, 12 Grey Plovers, 20 Golden Plovers, 15 Dunlins, three Blackwits and a swimming Avocet. It was disappointing to see that the bird feeders in the car park were once again empty. From the access road at Boulderwall my first Fieldfare of autumn flew over and seven Cattle Egrets were at the top end of Cook`s Pool.

No comments:

Post a Comment