More Crossbills

As it was such a lovely day I decided to revisit Hemsted in the hope of getting some good pics of the Parrot Crossbills. DW phoned to say they had the same idea so I arranged to be picked up. When we got there it was a surprise to see about 15 cars parked and a couple of groups standing round. We strolled along the track and wandered down to the break in the trees but it was an hour or more before any crossbills showed. A group of Common Crossbills flew into the pines by the track and dropped down to drink and there were a few feeding around the tops of the pines at the other end but no sign of the 2-barred or any Parrots.
As we stood around a Clouded Yellow flew around and settled in the track, being disturbed by 2 horses.


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Autumn is really here

We needed to get out so we decided to go for a walk around Park Wood as we hadn't been there lately. Arriving in the car park there were only 2 other cars so we expected a quiet walk but it was VERY quiet, we only heard 2 robins and a jay. The foliage was turning to autumn colours making a colourful carpet, there were plenty of fungi, which I struggle to identify apart from the Fly Agaric, and some lovely sweet chestnuts that we foraged as we went.

























































































The results of our foraging





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Crossbills Again

The weather this morning was wet, wild and windy but it did ease and improve by lunchtime so I decided on a further visit to Hemsted with DW and MC. Arriving at the parking area we were surprised to see 9 cars there.
A wander along the track and a chat to the birders who pointed out some Parrot Crossbills in the top of the trees across the clearing. While we were looking at them some crossbills flew over. Eventually the Two-barred Crossbill was found among a group at the top of the pines beside the entrance track.














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Jack Snipe

Saturday started off murky and damp with very little to be seen across the marsh and not much at the observatory. A call alerted us to a Jack snipe at Hanson Hide so we drove round and there it was standing very still and just bobbing occasionally. On the flood were several Golden Plover, Lapwing and ducks and the Glossy Ibis showed off and on distantly on the far side of the lake.

We drove down to the visitor's centre and walked on to Firth hide where there had been a report of a Yellow-browed Warbler but it didn't appear, however, a Cetti's called and several Chiffchaffs flitted in and out of the bushes.

Crossbills x3

Not being able to get to Hemstead since Wednesday I looked forward to going on Friday afternoon. As we approached the gateway there were so many cars parked along the roadside that we decided to go down to,the next gateway, which was empty, and walk in from there. We saw a goldcrest and heard a robin but no crossbills as we walked along the rides towards the clearing. Just as we got to the main ride we met DT who told us about the sightings of possibly 10 parrot crossbills, but no 2-barred, had just flown away. There were several fungi including this 'Lawyer's Wig'


Wandering down the track towards the crowds of people standing around we waited for an hour or so, chatting and catching up with the gossip as different groups of common crossbills flew around, the largest group numbering about 40, before news came that the 2-barred had been seen flying into the forest from the other side of the trees. We decided to stay and wait for the flock to work it's way through and soon a small flock of crossbills flew around, alighting in fir tree tops and the oak tree and then a 2- barred crossbill was located in the trees to the left of the entrance track. Good scope views but no chance for a photograph, even moving closer. It was sighted a few times after that and heard flying over among a flock of about 40 common crossbills.





A small group of crossbills flew to the western edge of the clearing and these proved to be 5 parrot crossbills which spent a little while ripping cones off the trees and tearing them to pieces before flying back towards the trees above the drinking pool but couldn't be re-located.
When I got home and checked my pictures I found that I had managed to catch the 2-barred in flight, not the best picture I've ever taken.


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Some you win and some you lose.

Only 3 moths in the trap Monday night and 2 last night, even if one was a Silver Y, mean that it will soon be time to put it away for the winter.
A call from DW had us heading to Dungeness in the hope that the Yellow-browed warbler which had been trapped and ringed would still be about. Unfortunately it wasn't seen again but another one was found in the light house garden so I drove round to see if I could see it. I arrived as it had flown into the research station gardens but it popped up on a wire before flying into the trees, over into the garden and then back to the lighthouse.

As we were trying to relocate it a call told us about a Red-breasted flycatcher in the trapping area so we returned to the obs and then headed out towards net site 14. The flycatcher was seen very briefly several times moving through the bushes but all I saw was a sun lit tail disappearing into the foliage.
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A New moth

The numbers of moths in the trap have been dropping rapidly but there have been some interesting moths for the year. Angleshades, Autumnal Rustic, Vapourer, Barred Sallow, Green-brindled Crescent, Cypress Carpet, Red-lined Quaker and Large Wainscot. Migrant activity came with a Vestal and, new for the trap, a Four-spotted Footman.


Bordered Sallow

Cypress Carpet



Green-brindled Crescent



Vestal

Vapourer

Red-lined Quaker

Four-spotted Footman

Large Wainscot
 

Hemsted for Crossbills

The moth trap has been very thin over the last few days - Angleshades, Large Yellow Underwing, Red-lined Quaker and a Large Wainscot.
Following the news that there was a 2-barred crossbill in Hemsted with a small flock of crossbills we decided to go for a walk to look for it. It was a nice morning which got warmer as we wandered round the paths and tracks. There were a few late flowers, Ragwort and Scabious and berries and Sweet Chestnut as well as the leaves beginning to turn.

There were Robins ticking and singing in many of the bushes, with several Great Spot Woodpeckers and a tit flock with Blue-tits, Longtailed Tits, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest. In one stand of conifers there were at least 12 Song thrushes with a couple of Blackbirds moving through but no sign of any crossbills.

A Real Ring Ouzel Day

An early start in anticipation of an interesting day, with a drive across the marsh not showing much activity. Arriving at the observatory I flushed several Song Thrushes and a Ring Ouzel as I drove over the moat. Then I wandered out across the shingle where there were small flocks of Ring Ouzels and Redwing, flying around and dropping in to feed.
A call from Patrick and I returned to the obs to see a Ring Ouzel in the hand, one of my favourite birds. I really love the delicate fringing of the feathers which gives it it's 'frosted' look.



Most of the day was spent wandering round the desert and trapping area trying to get good shots of the birds but they were very flighty, making photography quiets difficult. The interesting thing was that most of the birds were concentrated on the south side of the trapping area, with a few venturing into the edges of the willow where there were bramble bushes to feed on. Although several flew backwards and forwards from the area beside the long pits.
As well as all these thrushes there were small groups of Brambling, a few chiffchaffs, numbers of which built up in the afternoon, robins and a couple of swallows. Taking advantage of the warm sun was a dragonfly and quite a few Small Coppers.



Towards the end of the day several large flocks of Brent Geese passed high overhead, taking the cross country route south.



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Cranefly nightmare

Following a night of thunderstorms and rain the moth trap held few moths but an amazing collection of craneflies, there must have been 100s all mixed up and dangly, not my favourite creature in small numbers! Where's the hungry Robin went you need it?



It was nice to get a Bordered Sallow among the Lunar and Large Yellow Underwings.


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