Thursday 10th October - More Ouzels

I returned to Blackdown this morning with Paul Bowley to try for Ring Ouzels again. It looked like today would be the only clear day for several to come with strong winds and rain predicted through to early next week.

We walked the length of the reservoir track with a few Meadow Pipits being the sum total before we saw a Ring Ouzel rather distantly fly and perch at the top of a pine. We continued wandering seeing a few Redwing but not really adding much more although the back end of 6 geese disappearing over the tree tops looked interesting, but without a better view I opted for safe assumption that they were Greylags. It was an hour later when we finally came across what must have been this mornings feeding bush, as a single Whitebeam on one of the back paths suddenly had a lot of activity and we spent quite a while watching at least 10 very flighty Ring Ouzels feeding in this bush along with Redwings and a couple of Blackbirds. We could never get very close and several times they were spooked by dog-walkers, so scope views were best.

We added 5 Bullfinch, 4 Skylark and 4 or 5 Stonechat with 3 Dartford Warbler including one surprisingly in full song.

Another good morning. Back at home in the brief sunlight a Small Copper, Red Admiral, Small White and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth added some interest.