After returning from the Scilly trip yesterday, the weather forecast this week looks a rapid downward spiral, other than today which had light northerly winds and clear skies. The middle week of October seems to be the week that Winter thrushes arrive back in the UK, and that was the case last week when I was on Scilly, but very few had filtered down to the South West. Black Down can often be one of the first places to see them locally as they favour the pines and scrub to hide in between devouring the Rowan and Whitebeam berries whilst they last.
This morning was no exception with c20 Fieldfare, a similar number of Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush and 3 Ring Ouzels gave only flight views as they remained very skittish. The feature of this morning was a very large flock of Redpoll, pretty difficult to count but I think in excess of 200 birds., 10+ Brambling, a few Siskin and Linnet and 5 Crossbill. Along with the local Stonechat and Dartford Warblers some Meadow Pipits were moving through and Firecrest and Goldcrest were seen. So unlike some previous weeks there were a lot of birds around.
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| From the crosstracks on Black Down looking North |
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| A small number of the large flock of Redpolls.. doesn't look it but there are 45 in this picture |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Brambling |
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| Dartford Warbler |
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