0803 : Into October.

This week I was back to work following a week off, though prior to my main Autumn migration holiday of a fortnight. There was a noticeable shift in the timing of sunrise from my previous week at work with only around the final third of my walk being in actual daylight. This did mean I amended my own 'rules' to include ALL heard-only birds on the day's lists. This did seem to have an effect - I was paying more attention, so I possibly noticed more sounds than usual, as well as seeing more variety on my walk home after work. The totals for all 4 days covered here were probably higher than the average for the past 6 months though had my previous criteria been applied they would have been much more in line with other recent day lists.

Common Crossbill

On Monday the 28th of September as with the rest of the week it was Robins singing that were the first birds onto the list with Herring Gull not far behind. A flyover Meadow Pipit was heard but not seen in the pre-sunrise gloom. A Lesser Black Backed Gull was among the numerous gulls on the football pitches. I heard what sounded like a Buzzard as I neared work, but when I investigated there was only a Jay to be seen which I suspect was actually the culprit. I added Grey Wagtail and a skein of Pink Footed Geese on the walk home taking the day's total to 25 species of which 6 were heard only.

On Tuesday the 29th I heard Grey Wagtail flight calls at least 4 times on the morning's walk. There were Redwings heard from the trees at King's Cross Hospital and a single was seen flying over as I was about to go into work (the first sighting of this 'winter'). A new bird for the 'commute list' was a Great Black Backed Gull, and another surprise was a flyover single Crossbill at Balgay Hill. Pied Wagtail and Long Tailed Tits were also seen before I reached work. After work a skein of Pink Footed Geese and a Jay were added over Ninewells Avenue. A Red Admiral butterfly further on was a slight surprise given that it wasn't a particularly warm day. The day's total was 28 species of which 4 were heard only.

Thursday's weather forecast was fairly typical October weather to mark the start of the new month meaning there were less birds around on what was a rather wet walk to work. Siskin, Long Tailed Tits and a Buzzard being chased across the football pitches after work as well as one of my neighbourhood Sparrowhawks skimming low over the roofs of some flats nearby in hunting mode took the day's total to 23, of which only 3 were heard only birds. I expect there will be many more October and November days where the seasonal weather will play a big part in how much is seen or heard.

Thankfully, the 2nd of October was dry and clear though of the 24 species noted 7 were heard only, meaning that despite the wet weather I actually saw more species on Thursday than I did on Friday when the conditions should have been better. The biggest surprise wasn't a bird but a (most likely) Pipistrelle Bat hunting over the large gardens near the bottom of the Law Steps on the west side of the hill. There was a decent mix of species seen on Friday including Buzzard, Stock Dove, Bullfinch, Pink Footed Goose, Pied Wagtail, Jay and Sparrowhawk with Chiffchaff and Siskin both heard only, rounding off what was a surprisingly decent week's worth despite the 'late' sunrise times. When I go back to work in 2 weeks time daylight will be in even shorter supply so the lists will most likely be even shorter than now. 37 species of birds were noted this week. All photos are older ones.

Coal Tit

Siskin

House Sparrow

Stock Dove

Jackdaw

Grey Wagtail

Great Black Backed Gull

Bullfinch

Goldfinch

Black Headed Gull

Common Gull

Carrion Crow

Woodpigeon

Herring Gull

Pied Wagtail

Sparrowhawk

Long Tailed Tit

Goldcrest

Dunnock

Robin

Buzzard

Species noted - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Crossbill, Common Gull, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Butterflies - Red Admiral.

Mammals - Grey squirrel, Pipistrelle Bat.