A Late Cluster of Warblers

This morning I went out to look for the two (or any!) Northern Wheatear that were seen on Friday afternoon on the Pit Tip. I didn't count on finding them, and I didn't find them. They've almost certainly moved on. Oh well- that's how it goes.

At the back of the Pit Tip Plantation a Red Fox was trotting across the path and down through the cow field, completely unphased by my presence. Heading down to Dawson's Corner three Grey Partridge were together in the cow field to the north. Dawson's Corner itself was pretty active with warblers. Chiffchaff were calling and one was singing, a male Blackcap was feeding on elder berries, and a Common Whitethroat was hanging about too. Along the hedgerow of the horse field, a low babble-like song caught my attention, and I got onto the Lesser Whitethroat that was singing it - a bit late in the year, eh?

At the Mill Lakes two juvenile Cormorant were on Tern Island showing off their white/pale breasts. In the middle part of the lake a single eclipse male Shoveler was being typically shy and swimming off after seeing me, and a female Ruddy Duck was knocking about there too. At least two pairs of Gadwall were present at the north end of the lake, and there were two female or eclipse male Teal around Mud Island. Heading back along the Sustrans path there was at least one juvenile Common Whitethroat moving through the trees near to the footbrdige, and whilst watching it a juvenile Goldcrest appeared.

Back at Dawson's Corner the warblers were still active, and a juvenile Chiffchaff was tagging on to a mixed Tit flock that also contained a single Coal Tit. Up on the Pit Tip Top a Sparrowhawk was sat in the trees of the conservation area along Front Line, and a dog walker flushed a group of eleven Meadow Pipit for me to count. Before heading home, I had a quick walk up Lamin's Lane in the hope of picking up the odd migrant, but it was all rather quiet. Three Mistle Thrush flew over heading for the woodland, a couple of Yellowhammer were on the wires, and a male Kestrel was hunting over Lamin's Plantation. Almost fifty species recorded, so I can't complain.