A couple of days of torrential rain made it annoyingly un-birdable. I had returned to Selsey on Saturday morning, for an odd mix of birds, without anything exceptional but enough to keep a bit of interest, about 100 hirundines were seen, mainly Swallows, but a few House Martin and Sand Martin. 15 Yellow Wagtails , 7 Pied Wagtails and 111 Meadow Pipits was a small increase in vismig. A Grey Plover flew over calling first thing and 7 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen with 1 Teal and 4 Wigeon and 2 Little Egret. The surprise bird was probably a Spotted Flycatcher sitting on the roadwork fencing. Church Norton had very little to offer, probably as quiet as I've seen it.
This morning I rather doggedly went up to Black Down having been side-lined by the weather the last couple of days. I was sure that there would be some sign of migration. Despite the low cloud having lifted at home, at 8am when I arrived on Black Down it was covered in a thick mist and other than a couple of Robins giving their rather wistful autumn tunes, there was little to no activity being seen. Taking my normal route through the site it was deadly quiet, I barely saw a calling Stonechat then nothing. I took to photographing the cows, and then cobwebs on the gorse, when it gets to this stage you know that birding has hit rock-bottom. I was boldened when I found 3 Blue Tits and a Great Tit and then I had poor views of a small flock that passed through the tops of trees. I made out Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Goldcrest and c10 Chiffchaffs, so some improvement. With little visibility and no more birds I walked down Cotchett Valley where there are quite of number of Rowans in berry.... no birds in them but 3 Bullfinch flew over. I made my way back, another small flock had a Spotted Flycatcher, again the highlight of the morning, and 8 Meadow Pipits were counted flying over. That autumn migration moment will have to wait, hoping the next few weeks will hold some improvements.
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| Spotted Flycatcher - Selsey |
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| A quiet Mist |
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| definitely an autumnal feel |
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| No birds, so the Belted Galloways had to be photo fodder |
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| The Rowans were berry laden but they didn't seem bird-ripe and had started to drop them already |
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