Friday 11th September - Blackdown

and again a morning visit - overnight clear skies and bright sunshine this morning with a light easterly wind  would not normally result in many new birds and often a clear-out of any migrants would ensue.

I'd noted that Dave had recorded the first Ring Ouzel of the autumn a couple of days ago along with a sensational record of a probable Ortolan Bunting, which was unfortunately a fly-through, so I hadn't lost all hope that something new might be lurking.

A Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Raven were all seen before I encountered the flock of migrant birds, which  was indeed still around. A good number of mainly Chiffchaffs probably again around 40 birds, I only managed to see one Willow Warbler and one Blackcap. 2 Redstarts and 6 Spotted Flycatchers and I flushed a Woodlark which I hadn't seen since early Spring. Siskins were into double figures and 8 Linnets were seen and probably around 50 Swallows and House Martins, which were using a Rowan as a roosting tree. A small commotion alerted me to a Tawny Owl sitting out on one of the pines, which I managed to get Dave onto, who had seen much the same as me with the exception of a flyby Hawfinch, which I must have just missed, again a great record for here.

Raven

Tawny Owl - a bit obscured and into the sun