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| Swift |
For reasons unknown I didn't sleep very well overnight into Saturday, so I was still rather tired when I got up. It was still relatively early though not quite as early as I had planned, as I had been finally going to try for Quail again. As a result, I had little energy or enthusiasm but it was too nice a day to stay in, so I decided to head up to the Law for a spot of vis-migging (visible migration) for the first time this 'Autumn'. Expectations were low.
I headed out at 0715. Starling, Woodpigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Magpie, House Martin, Goldfinch and Great Tit were found between home and Main Street. Carrion Crow, Wren, House Sparrow, Chiffchaff and Coal Tit were added on the walk up to the hill, with a Rabbit on the last set of steps posing for a few photos before scampering off into the undergrowth. Unfortunately when I got to the top, there were a couple of drones whizzing around the top and out a bit. As a result birds were in short supply. A Meadow Pipit was heard before 2 Tree Pipits passed to the north heading west. Another was heard a minute later. A pair of Stock Doves were seen heading north a bit out to the west.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard at 0810. A couple of Meadow Pipits headed southeast at 0817 and a pair of Swallows passed the front of the hill while a drone battery change was happening shortly afterwards. A few of the local House Martins were around and distant (single) Swifts were seen out to the west and east between 0835 and 0845. A total of 9 Tree Pipits were seen heading west over the next 20 minutes in groups of 2, 4 and 3. The drone pilots headed off around 0900 and activity seemed to pick up a bit though it was just more of the same species. The first Sparrowhawk put in an appearance, just after a Chaffinch flew over from one side of the hill to the other. The Sparrowhawk drifted off to the north and a second one was seen roughly an hour later.
Another pair of Stock Doves flew past at 0955, 2 Swifts were seen out to the northeast at 1004. I picked up 4 Buzzards just to the south of Balgay Hill as they spiralled up near the hill around 1015. Two of these birds drifted past to the south of the Law about 20 minutes later before a young bird flew in and landed in the top of one of the east side conifers nearest to the road. I managed to get some photos before it flew off pursued by crows, though unfortunately against the light. I gave up around 1100 and had a look for insects instead until around 1345. Blackbird, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and a Raven were noted during the insect-spotting. Vis-mig totals were 6 Meadow Pipits, 15 Tree Pipits, 4 Stock Doves, 3 Swallows and 5 Swifts (plus 2 Sparrowhawks and 4 Buzzards). Insect sightings will be covered in my insects blog post (at some point in the future - there's already a lengthy back-log).
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| Rabbit |
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| Saker Falcon |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| House Martin |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Swift |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Wall |
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| Buzzard |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Raven, Robin, Feral Pigeon, [Saker Falcon] Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Wall.
Mammals - Rabbit.
(Other insects will be listed on insects blog later).
