Another busy day once the
early morning rain had moved through with light winds and a dry rest of the
day; opened the nets around 09:00 once it was dry and I caught a nice selection
of the usual birds including the first Dunnock of the autumn
but it was nearly fantastic as a big, female Peregrine bounced out of the end
net leaving a dead Fieldfare – I’m not sure exactly what happened, whether the
Peregrine chased the Fieldfare into the net, carried it there or attacked it
when it was already in the net but the outcome was the same…the Fieldfare was
dead and the Peregrine flew off!
Totals for the rest of the Obs census route included
a very late Common Sandpiper on the coast at The Lurn, a Great-northern
Diver, 6 Whooper Swans on Gretchen (two adults and four juveniles), a
Woodpigeon, a Swallow, 5 Rock Pipits, 17 Robins, 2 Wheatears, 20 Blackbirds, 10
Fieldfares, 7 Song Thrushes, 210+ Redwing, 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, a Willow
Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, 12+ Chaffinches, 95+ Brambling (80 in Funny Park), 6 Greenfinches (four south over Holland, two at the Obs), a Goldfinch, a
Siskin, the Common Rosefinch in Funny Park, a Snow Bunting and a Reed
Bunting.
I opened the nets at Ancum mid-afternoon and it was a
very productive session, especially at dusk when 100+ mixed Chaffinch, Brambling
and Linnets came in; the same Great Grey Shrike was also re-trapped, a
Yellowhammer came into roost while other birds caught included 3 Blackcap, 2
Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest and some Redwings, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. It was another case of what if, as a large ‘ticking’
Bunting came into roost at dusk, calling loudly but didn’t find the nets – I really
have no clue what it was but it was definitely rare…
Other bits around Ancum included a Hen Harrier, a
Kestrel, a Jackdaw south, a different 6 Whooper Swans on the loch (four adults
and two juveniles) and a late Red Admiral.
Bramblings and Chaffinches
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