2nd Nov

Fri - another lovely day. Fieldfare very vocal in the hawthorn bushes today - I think there must have been an overnight invasion! Vis-miggers saw lots of "thrushes" very high in the sky going SW at dawn, too. This years Wood Pigeon passage is looking the strongest its been for many years. Still a few Sky Larks on the move. Very few Mipits.
20/21 Cormorant & 30+ GCG on main lake. Fingers had Kingfisher, 3m Teal, 2m + 4f Shoveler, 2m + 1f Gadwall, & 2 LGrebe. There were 11 Herons on site (2 on main lake) including 4 yearlings. The middle section (south-west side of main lake) has now been closed off for the winter.

After Halloween

Thurs - mainly sunny but the wind got up. Tried to catch a rarity - but none about! Lol! Did manage 26 but half were retraps. Best birds - ad.male Gt.Spot, a Redwing, 2 young male Bullfinch, but the rest mostly tits. Would have had more Blackbirds but the wind combined with slack netting, holes in netting and feisty birds kept it down to just 2. Nearly made it 3, but the bird shat a humungous wadge all over my glasses and I lost it. After I regained vision and wiped my cheek clean, noticed that it was all over my cap, bins & gilet! Must have had a Halloween curry last night!!!!

For the third day running, had a Harlequin ladybird.

Light Sky Lark passage - stopped by 10:30.

Some Redpolls "buzzing" about, too.

Early pm - Chiff & Blackcap.

Halloween

Wed - a grey morning, at least. On the main lake - 20 Cormorant & 35 GCGrebe; Jon Bish had some Wigeon early. On Fingers - 12 Shoveler, 10 Teal (brilliant!), 5 Gadwall, 4 LGrebe, 2 Heron. Elsewhere - Siskin f/over, 4 Les.Redpoll, 30+ Goldfinch all in one flock, plenty of Blackbirds, Redwings and Chaffinches. Squirrels having a go at the peanut feeders - not for much longer (getting the humane traps out). Gets expensive @ £16 each feeder; nuts currently £22/sack.