Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Tuesday 8th October - Ouzel Dawn

I had intended to go to Blackdown yesterday morning but it was wet first thing, so I stayed at home and kept an eye on birds moving outside. More thrushes were evident with 258 Redwing, 13 Song Thrush and 4 Mistle Thrush, also 10 Meadow Pipit, 25 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, 5 Pied Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail unusually 13 Black-headed Gulls went West all of which made for an interesting hour whilst having a coffee.

I did visit Blackdown this morning, arriving close to dawn, but not anticipating that it would be foggy, the first wander up the reservoir track and into Borden Door Bottom, produced very little other than a few Meadow Pipits, Redwing and a Linnet. When I returned to the pines near the Parrot pool the first 'chacking' was heard and a Ring Ouzel flew up to a birch tree followed by 3 more then another 5 appeared with some Redwing quickly flying out calling, a further two then appeared from the pines with more Redwing. The next hour was spent in a slower wander around this ridge where I was seeing Ring Ouzels constantly in flight, my final estimate was 16 birds, which hopefully was conservative There were c80 Redwing, 20 Meadow Pipit and 8 Linnet. Also my first Brambling of the autumn calling in another birch with 3 Bullfinch and 2 Woodlark were in the area. Local birds were represented by 3 Stonechat and 2 Dartford Warbler and a few newly appeared toadstools added to the autumn feel although it is still mild.


Ring Ouzels
Part of a group of 10 birds
Looks like a 1st year Ring Ouzel
Fly Agaric
Puffball sp

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