Shepreth L-moor for the second time this week at lunchtime. Hoping for a Yellow-browed again in the Sycamores. There must be one lurking somewhere.
Went to Fowlmere after work. Looking through the Golden Plovers for the third time this week (seemed slightly fewer tonight, though still over 100). Hoping for a Lesser amongst them! Scanned the flock twice, no joy. Then a huge female Peregrine flew over the field (poor record shot below). Interesting behaviour from the Goldies. All the other birds went up, the 100+ Lapwings and the similar number of Starlings. Both had obviously spotted the Peregrine before I had. The Goldies however didn’t go up, but instead, went down; crouching on the ground keeping very low so as to almost not be seen. Then they obviously realised the score, the threat was from above, and took off too.
After several minutes the Lapwings and Starlings came back down, some distance away from the Peregrine that had decided to sit in the field (without prey). The Goldies carried on somewhere (I didn’t see where as was watching the Peregrine). The birds on the ground seemed wary after that, always keeping an eye on the Peregrine. Over ten Hares were in the field too.
The reserve held little, though a Tawny Owl was heard at dusk after dark and there were lots of medium-sized bats (another poor record shot below).
Shepreth L-Moor08 October 2015 12:41 - 13:33
Patch cloud 15C 6NW
Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit,
Fowlmere
08 October 2015 17:31 - 19:06
Patchy cloud 15C 6NW
Teal, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge,
