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Carrion Crow
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Saturday's exertions with an early start and a 7 hour stint at Riverside Nature Park meant that once again, I had very little energy on Sunday but still wanted to squeeze in a bit of birding rather than spend all day looking at a PC screen, trying to catch up with these blog-posts, or editing the photos that I use to illustrate these posts. I considered Swannie Ponds but figured there wasn't likely to be much to be gained from another visit there on its own, and with things at Spring Grove still largely in 'Summer' mode with vegetation hiding most of the activity there wasn't any reason yet to go there as an add-on to the ponds. Although it was mid-morning by this time, I decided to head to the top of the Law to see if anything was passing by. Usually vis-mig gets much quieter from around 0930-1000, so my expectation levels were very low.
At 1040 I headed out for the 20 minute walk to the top of the hill, which would give me an 1100 start. Blue Tit, a calling Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow, Robin, Feral Pigeon and some of the local House Sparrows made for a surprisingly busy start to the morning's proceedings. Starling, Woodpigeon and Herring Gull then Blackbird, Dunnock, a flyover Meadow Pipit and a Red Admiral butterfly were all noted before I reached the top of the Hilltown. A Collared Dove on Kinghorne Road was slightly unexpected, though Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Magpie were definitely all expected as I neared the hill. A Pied Wagtail flew over as I reached the steps up to the top. Wren, Great Tit and Goldcrest were heard from the trees on the slope up.
Once at the top I got organised, with my notebook, binoculars and camera all readied for use. It took 5 minutes before th first migrant was picked up, a Swallow heading southwest. A Meadow Pipit a couple of minutes later was heard only. A small skein of 6 Pink Footed Geese headed south towards the river. A Coal Tit called from the trees. Another Meadow Pipit and a Pied Wagtail went in opposite directions around 1115, the former west, the latter east. A very distant pair of Pink Footed Geese were seen heading inland well out to the northwest. Another Meadow Pipit went southwest and a Chaffinch perched in one of the trees on the north side of the hill. Another pair of Meadow Pipits passed over.
Just after 1130, I picked up a loose flock of half a dozen birds approaching from the east. As they got closer I could hear them calling - Crossbills. I quickly tried to get some photos, though the quality was rather lacking. The birds then appeared to turn towards the south and I lost sight of them. A few minutes later a single Crossbill flew quite low overhead heading northwest but I failed to get a photo. A trio of young Rooks flew past from northeast to southwest before a Jay was made a bit of a racket from somewhere among the trees on the northeastern slopes. A House Martin passed by to the north, going west. Long Tailed Tits worked their way through the trees around the rear of the hill. There was then a small pulse of movement of Swallows, with groups of 4, 3 and another 4 over a 6 minute period.
From noon it was the turn of Meadow Pipits to provide the only obvious migration with 7 single birds over the next half hour. During that time, I added Bullfinch and just after 1230 a Black Headed Gull was spotted out to the west. With things seemingly fizzling out on the migrants front, I decided to give up at 1240, after 100 minutes at the top of the hill. The walk home added nothing new. I managed a total of 29 species and despite the late start it was interesting to see that there was still a variety of species moving through, though numbers were relatively low. The Crossbills in particular were an unexpected highlight, even if the views weren't particularly close (with the exception of the solo bird which overflew too quickly for me to get the camera in focus). It was certainly more interesting than most of my visits to Swannie Ponds turn out to be at this time of year.... though I must be about due something 'good' there again sometime soon. Here's hoping....
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Pink Footed Goose
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Carrion Crow
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Meadow Pipit
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| Chaffinch |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Rook |
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| Rook |
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| Rook |
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| Swallow |
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| Chaffinch |
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Carrion Crow
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| Magpie |
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Carrion Crow
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Meadow Pipit
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Hering Gull
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Blue Tit
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Flesh Fly sp.
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Carrion Crow
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Carrion Crow
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| Woodpigeon |
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Hering Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Red Admiral.
