A migrating HOBBY

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

 

IVINGHOE HILLS NATURE RESERVE

 

Spurned on by Mike Wallen's migrating flock of 16 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS over the Beacon and his impressive count of Meadow Pipits, I ventured down much later in the morning and tried my luck on any remaining VizMig passage. As it was, it had all fizzled out, just 9 Meadow Pipit for my efforts, but most noteworthy was a nice migrant adult HOBBY that was lingering over the Sheep Pen fields and repeatedly returning to the fenceposts to rest (see images below). Little in the bushes other than a single Blackcap and 3 Common Chiffchaffs. Again, no hirundine passage

 

At WILSTONE RESERVOIR, no change from yesterday - 9 PINTAILS, 132 Wigeon, 106 Shoveler, 343 Teal, 101 Tufted Duck, 185 Northern Pochard, the 2 GARGANEY (although Ian Williams & Jeff Bailey had 3), 18 Gadwall, 10 Little Egret, the COMMON SANDPIPER and 5 Grey Wagtails

Stonechat Passage begins

Its that time of year again when COMMON STONECHAT passage begins to pep up, whilst Whinchat numbers fall and cease - quite sad really. Anyhow, PITSTONE HILL today supported four of the former, two males and two females showing well along the fenceline. Very, very quiet otherwise, with just a single Common Chiffchaff having a go at a Meadow Pipit! No hirundine passage...

 

The reservoirs are exceedingly quiet too - just a single Common Sandpiper and the 16 Northern Pintail

First STONECHATS of the autumn arrive

Pitstone Hill 21 Sep - 10.30-12.30

Three COMMON STONECHATS present, a male and two females - the first I have seen up Pitstone Hill since 23 February! A single Common Whitethroat still in same bush as on the 15th but no Whinchats seen (Sally Douglas).

Flogging a dead horse

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

 

Flogging a dead horse!

 

With light northeasterlies and grey skies, it felt promising for IVINGHOE HILLS but in the event, a VizMig vigil from 0900 to midday produced just a single Eurasian Barn Swallow migrating east! I was flogging a dead horse in the bushes too with just a single Common Chiffchaff in the scrub at the far east end of Gallows Hill and a male Blackcap singing in Top Scrub. A single Red Kite, 17 Goldfinch and 16 Meadow Pipits completed the list, while just below the car park, 4 Robins were vying for territory space.

 

Over at WILSTONE RESERVOIR, the biggest change has been in the wildfowl numbers - a huge increase. For example, PINTAIL numbered 16 (although I hear Steve Rodwell had 27 at the weekend), while Gadwall numbered 18, Common Teal 312, Mallard 216, Eurasian Wigeon 208, Tufted Duck 301 and Northern Pochard an outstanding 192. The GARGANEY was still present, while waders were represented by 181 Lapwing, Common Sandpiper and a new migrant juvenile DUNLIN (Roy had also seen 2 Ringed Plover briefly earlier). Little in the passerine line other than 2 Goldcrest, 3 Grey Wagtail and a large tit flock comprising of at least 8 Blue Tits

 

A bumper arrival of WHINCHATS

TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

 

The hottest day of the year in the South East with the thermostat hitting an incredible 34 degrees C (94 fahrenheit) in some parts - remarkable!

 

Believing there to be Honey Buzzard potential in a freshening Southeasterly breeze, I spent the morning up IVINGHOE, birding the usual area between 0900 and 1400 hours. As it was, raptor migration was poor, with just 5 migrating juvenile Common Buzzards over to the south in that duration. Birding was better on the ground, with no less than 9 WHINCHATS lined up side by side on the fenceline beyond the sheep pen. I also flushed a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER from the grass by the pen that flew into the weeds into the overgrown field, while other migrants included 5 COMMON REDSTARTS (two by the stile at the bottom of the car park slope, 1 by the car park and 2 in Inkombe Hole), a Lesser Whitethroat, 6+ Common Chiffchaffs, 19 Meadow Pipits and a CLOUDED YELLOW butterfly. A few Common Treecreepers, 4 Coal Tits and a Jay were also noted in Top Scrub.

 

A further single WHINCHAT was on Pitstone Hill

Migrant HONEY BUZZARD

In a strong Southwesterly wind and good visibility, Mike Wallen had a single EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD fly low through Steps Hill at around 0900 hours, as well as several Common Buzzards and a migrant Hobby