15/10/2009 - another one that got away . . .

Late afternoon. No notebook so approximate counts

I spotted a probable CETTI'S WARBLER just NE of the southern bridge on the way back. All I got on it was: a rich brown warbler flying into a bush, I got a view of its head for >1 second and it showed rich brown tones and an obvious eyestripe which seemed to turn up a bit at the back. Frustratingly, after much waiting it refused to show again to be clinched.

I belatedly caught up with my first REDWINGS of the autumn for the site today with at least 10 present on land. There was also a handful of SONG THRUSHES around. Light overhead passage of Gulls with 1 COMMON C.5 BLACK-HEADED +C.10 HERRING. +11 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS NE. 1-2 PIED WAGTAILS c.north.

Little else was seen today. 1 KESTREL +1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 LINNET, 1 GOLDFINCH, C.5 CHAFFINCHES, >5 JAYS etc.

12/10/2009

The usual late afternoon visit with a hint of over-head passerine movement including the first SISKIN and the first SKYLARK of the autumn heard over head; these being the birds of most note.

Also today:
CARRION CROW
MAGPIE C.5
LONG-TAILED TIT C.20
JAY 1
GREAT TIT 5
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 1
WOODPIGEON
GREEN WOODPECKER 1
DUNNOCK 3
BLACKBIRD 2
BLACKCAP 1 male
BLUE TIT C.6
LINNET 1
SONG THRUSH 1 singing +8+ overhead
JACKDAW 6
ROBIN 3
CHAFFINCH 5
SPARROWHAWK 1

flyovers:

ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET 4-6
HERRING GULL 8
LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL 1
BLACK-HEADED GULL 21

08/10/2009

Golf course. Late afternoon in very poor weather

Best bird was a single GOLDCREST along the wooded footpath

also 2+ ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS over
2+ LONG-TAILED TITS
1 COAL TIT
2 ROBINS
1+ BLUE TIT
1 WREN
2 MAGPIES
1 JAY

1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER heard just west of site

Other local news:

MEADOW PIPIT heard over Shanklin estate c.0800 + HERRING, COMMON and BLACK-HEADED GULLS at Overton Park/Overton Grange school.

GOLDFINCHES Belmont Heights.

Recently a GREEN WOODPECKER has been heard and seen around Belmont Heights/Overton Park- a scarce bird for that immediate local area.

Wintering PIED WAGTAILS have returned to Overton Park.

A quiet first few days of October it has to be said . . .

06/10/2009

Late afternoon

Highlights

200-300 JACKDAWS c.N / NW to roost
3 HOUSE MARTINS low south through Bikers'#
18-19 GOLDFINCHES (not common in any number at the Downs)

Full list

up to 26 MAGPIES
WOODPIGEON
6+ JAYS
CARRION CROW
1+ GREAT TIT
1 CHAFFINCH
4+ LONG-TAILED TITS
1+ GREEN WOODPECKER
1+ BLUE TIT
1 imm SPARROWHAWK
11 LINNETS
1 DUNNOCK
2 ROBINS
1 KESTREL


Flyovers

32+ HERRING GULLS
c.52 BLACK-HEADED GULLS (inc. tight flock of c.46 c.west)
2 ad/subad LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS

01/10/2009- how will October start? . . .

. . . not terribly well, as expected . . .

Highlights

1 male PHEASANT showing well at Bikers'
1 ad/subad GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL

Full list

2 DUNNOCKS
25 LONG-TAILED TITS
11+ BLUE TITS
WOODPIGEON
7 GREENFINCHES
13+ GREAT TITS
1 WILLOW WARBLER
6+ ROBINS (possibly up to 12+, my notes are a bit muddled)
3+ JAYS
6 MAGPIES
1 BULLFINCH
9+ CHAFFINCHES
1 BLACKCAP
1 GREEN WOODPECKER
2 WRENS
3+ JACKDAWS
1+ SONG THRUSH
1+ CHIFFCHAFF
1+ BLACKBIRD
1 imm SPARROWHAWK
1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
1 LINNET


Flyovers

3 HERRING GULLS
6 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS
6 FERAL PIGEONS

29/09/2009

Early a.m. (0630-0730):

No sign of possible BARRED WARBLER
2-4 MEADOW PIPITS
2 COLLARED DOVES over north enclosure
8+ LINNETS
2-4 STOCK DOVES
+c.30 FERAL PIGEONS over
1W COMMON GULL over
c.3 CHIFFCHAFFS
5-10 STARLINGS over
1 GREEN WOODPECKER
c.20 HERRING GULLS over
1 BLACK-HEADED GULL over

Late afternoon full species list:

6+ BLUE TITS
c.20 LONG-TAILED TITS
7+ GREAT TITS
6+ MAGPIES
WOODPIGEON
1+ GREEN WOODPECKER
c.7 JAYS
11-14 ROBINS
CARRION CROW
6+ LINNETS
1 KESTREL
2 BULLFINCHES
1 TREECREEPER
3 WRENS
1 CHIFFCHAFF
4 DUNNOCKS
1 BLACKCAP
1 CHAFFINCH
1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
1 BLACKBIRD
possible Nuthatch heard north wood.


FLYOVERS

1 ad/subad COMMON GULL
1 ad/subad LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS- 1 NE 4 low SW 3 E
6 JACKDAWS
2 STARLINGS
1 PIED WAGTAIL
2 HERRING GULLS
4 FERAL PIGEONS
1 large gull sp. (imm)

Other local news:

1 MEADOW PIPIT over Belmont Heights
1 SPARROWHAWK over Overton Park pursuing/mobbed by 2-3 GOLDFINCHES over Overton Park
1 CHIFFCHAFF Cudham Close Belmont singing