Guilder Brook

Popped very briefly early evening to Guilder Brook, Fowlmere where multiple Redstarts were apparently seen earlier in the day. This juvenile Green Woodpecker was sitting on the path and I continually disturbed it whilst walking until it managed to cross the brook and head back the way it came. Managed to find one of the Redstarts, a female type.

Hobby and Swift

A very wet day. Rain eased to just a drizzle about half an hour before dusk so I went to check the Hobbys. Didn’t see any, (they can be difficult to view) but did hear at least one bird.

On the way back, a Swift was circling around the church.

Swifts

Double figures of Swifts over the house early evening after much rain in the afternoon. At least ten birds but difficult to tell as not sure whether I was seeing the same group. An interesting record.

Also, a new dragonfly for the garden: Common Darter.

 

Hobbys

Visited the Hobbys at dusk. At least two birds present including an adult.

Hedgehog

One in the garden. A very big (male?). First for some time.

Fowlmere

A muggy morning after much overnight rain. Woke early and went to Fowlmere with some expectation. However it was quiet though there were young Reed Warblers everywhere, and two of the juvenile Marsh Harriers were up early.

Fowlmere
14 August 2015 06:57 - 08:34
Overcast after much overnight rain 21C 12SW
Greylag Goose, Greater Canada Goose, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant (heard), Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit (heard), Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff (heard), Blackcap (heard), Reed Warbler, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Greenfinch, Reed Bunting (heard), Rabbit, Brown Hare, Grey Squirrel, Migrant Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly

Swift

One Swift seen flying over the garden and around the church early morning, but don’t think it’s one of ours; think they’ve definitely left.

Fowlmere

Obligatory “record shot” of Common Sandpiper.

Female Tufted Duck seen, but unfortunately no young. Presumably the Grey Heron nearby hadn’t been going hungry.

Cycled down so called in at the Hobby site in Foxton Woods. One bird seen briefly.

Fowlmere
12 August 2015 17:56 - 19:23
Patchy cloud 21C 10NE
Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Blue Tit (heard), Swallow, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit (heard), Chiffchaff (heard), Willow Warbler, Wren (heard), Starling, Blackbird, Robin (heard), Chaffinch, Linnet, Rabbit, Brown Hare

Fowlmere

Very quick walk around (with Michelle), mainly to see if this morning’s Black-tailed Godwit was still present. It wasn’t. The odd female Blackbird was.

 

Fowlmere
11 August 2015 19:35 - 20:14
light drizzle 17C 5E
Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Water Rail (heard), Moorhen, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Kingfisher (heard), Green Woodpecker (heard), Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest (heard), Blue Tit (heard), Great Tit (heard), Swallow, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit (heard), Chiffchaff (heard), Reed Warbler (heard), Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Chaffinch (heard), Migrant Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly

Least Carpet

One found in the bathroom.

Fowlmere

 

Not a bad couple of hours at lunchtime. Red Kite on the edge of the reserve. Common Sandpiper, 41 Lapwing, 4 juvenile Marsh Harriers, Kingfisher showing nicely.

Ruddy Darters and Red Current berries gave that late Summer to Autumn feeling.

 

Fowlmere
09 August 2015 12:09 - 14:17
Sunny 23C 12 SW
Greylag Goose, Teal, Mallard, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove, Swift, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Jackdaw (heard), Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit (heard), Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap (heard), Reed Warbler, Wren (heard), Blackbird, Chaffinch (heard), Brimstone, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Brown Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Ruddy Darter

Hobby and Swifts

A juvenile Hobby was perched on the tall beaches on the north-west side of Foxton Woods. I waited for about half an hour but no adults were seen. The bird flew around several times but returned to the same spot. Presumably the offspring of the adults that have been seen flying around the village lately and quite possibly last year’s returning birds.

The Swifts haven’t left. At least one returned to the nest hole two or three times today, and three birds were seen above the garden.

Swift

One (I think) Swift roosted overnight and I saw it flying around the garden in the morning. But no sign of any tonight. Summer is over?