Friday, 2 November 2012

Saturday 27th October - Pumpkin Power

It can be frustrating when rarer birds turn up during the week as working in London means having to wait until the weekend often for them to disappear on a Thursday or Friday - I don't do much in the way of twitching rare birds but particularly if they're fairly close to home,  then I'll make the effort. A very smart an obliging male Desert Wheatear arrived in Worthing on Wednesday and had been giving excellent close views late into Friday afternoon, so I was up early and headed there for just after first light knowing that I had to be back late morning for a pumpkin carving commitment with the girls.

Several others were also there looking , but it was soon apparent there the bird had vanished - no doubt looking for somewhere giving a closer resemblance to desert than Worthing beach next to the pier. The more likely cause were the strong overnight northerly winds and bright clear skies. A small movement of passerines were battling the wind, with small flocks of Chaffinches, Siskins, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits and a few Redwings moving along the coast with a few late Swallows and House Martins.

Back at home it is still fairly quiet around the feeders. There seem to be more Coal Tits around and still 3 or 4 Goldcrest a slight increase in Chaffinches, a dozen Siskins favouring the Alders and Pied Wagtails regularly fly over (but I think these are resident birds commuting over the houses). Still 30+ Redwings around the trees in the gully next to the house.

And thanks to Henry with the mushroom ID - Adie's very grateful as her project now looks impressive !

Anyone sick of Pumpkins ?
Maybe this was used to scare off the Desert Wheatear ?
These wee the ones I grew
Our Bantam Rooster remains unimpressed with Halloween
Taking pictures of our own ducks must mean it;s very quiet for wild birds.


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