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Sunday 25 September 2016

More from the Farm

Lotmead Farm: 6:30am - 9:30am
Location

Sunrise: 7:00am

Temperature: 15°C

Notes
Main highlight this morning was watching a Spotted Flycatcher preening and occassionally leaving its branch to catch its breakfast, behind the cow sheds. Other highlights were 10 Wigeon, which were new for me on the pool, a fly-by Cormorant and 2 Muntjac in the field between the Hide and pool. A few Red Admirals out in the early morning sun.

Birds noted flying over
- 1 Grey Heron that landed in the field behind the pool.
- A Cormorant that headed northwest.
- Just 14 large gulls overhead
- 30+ hirundines. At least 20 House Martins and 2 Swallows over the farm, and 8 Swallows heading south behind the pool.
- 1 Linnet
- 1 Yellow Wagtail over the farm
- 2 Grey Wagtail over the pool
- 5 Meadow Pipit

Hirundines etc. seen here today
- 10+ Barn Swallow
- 15+ House Martins

Warblers seen / heard around the water
- At least 5 Chiffchaff calling and 1 singing
- A Blackcap by the pool.

The counts from around the pool, duck pond and farm:
1 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 28 Mallard, 10 Wigeon, 1 Buzzard, 3 Pheasant, 5 Moorhen, 2 Herring Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Feral Pigeon, 5 Collared Dove, 1 Green Woodpecker, 20+ House Martin, 10 Swallow, 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, 14 Robin, Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 9 Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, 1 Linnet, Goldfinch, Bullfinch.

Butterflies: 5 Red Admirals

Also: 2 Muntjac

Images and videos from today:

An escapee. This female Pheasant was supposed to be in her pen.

Two of the 10 Wigeon seen on the pool this morning.

The first Muntjac to pass the Hide this morning.

And the second one 15 minutes later

A Muntjac

And very close.

A Cormorant heads northwest

A Spotted Flycatcher.....

...which spent most of its time.....

....preening....

....and more in depth preening....

..........and a stretch........

..........before sitting still for a quick photo.

A Spotted Flycatcher making the most of a bit of Autumn sun

A "Leaf Warbler" I suspect its just a Chiffchaff....

but those yellow underparts!!

Looks like something out of Macbeth. A Carrion Crow in moult. Youngster maybe!

Lots of these about this morning.

My first fungi of Autumn. I'm thinking Honey Fungus, Armillaria mellea