Aldbourne Harrier

It's been awhile since Don and I have walked the  4-mile circular walk around Aldbourne. But with the temperature at 22°C (on the garden thermometer), it would have been a real shame not to have done a walk today, on what turned out to be the hottest Halloween on record, beating Dartford's 20°C back in 1968. We started off at Oxford Street and down to Lottage Road and then back up to Crooked Corner, via the children's park.

Our 4 mile circular

(map courtesy of Google Earth)

Crooked Corner runs parallel to Lottage Road and is more or less an an access road to the homes backing onto it. With most of the flowers all gone, the insects enjoying the unseasonable warm weather were feeding in abundance on the Ivy flowers. The majority of invertebrate were Drone Flies, Blue Bottles, a Noon Fly, wasps sps. and 3 Red Admirals.

Noon Fly

Drone Fly and Noon Fly

Red Admiral

At the end you cross over Cook Road and onto the start of the Gallop. On your left and right are fields and the track takes you down to Lottage Road. Along this length there are lots Hawthorn, that will no doubt feed the thrushes this winter. A Red Kite flew overhead and headed up over the ridge on our left.

Red Kite

Just before we crossed over Lottage Road and headed up the Gallop, we could see on our left up to 400+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a dozen or so Herring Gull in the freshly sewn field..

400+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls

Herring Gulls highlighted in amongst the Lesser Black-backed Gulls

About 100 metres up the Gallop we turned right onto a track, that eventually takes you east Lease Farm. Before you get to the farm, the track turns to your right at the East Leaze Cottages. The track up to the cottages is about 1½ miles and runs along a ridge on your right. Last year a set-a-side was along here, but not this year for some reason. Along here were plenty of Skylarks making there away across the fields and a Yellowhammer was calling from the top a tree a good 100 metres away from us. In the distance a Buzzard was seen patrolling the top fields.

Yellowhammer

One of two Buzzards seen today, this one patrolling the top fields.

As we made our way around the track, Don met up with his walking partner. Not wanting to appear rude I listened to them chatting and joined in every now and then, but very concious that there were lots of birds calling and flying around us. As I scanned the ridge to my left a Buzzard was being harassed by a crow, but as looked closer I realised it wasn't a Buzzard in fact a female Hen Harrier or "Ringtail" as they are more commonly called, due to their a white rump and a long, barred tail . I managed one shot as it flew over the ridge.

A very distant shot of a Ringtail

All along the hedgerows and indeed down Oxford Road there were hundreds of Bryony berries. I dont think I've quite seen so many before, its obviously been a very good year for berries all round.

Bryony berries

A bit closer

In the far distance the aerial at Foxfield.

And in the fields along Oxford Road there were plenty of Rooks, Jackdaws, Lesser Black-backed Gulls feeding on small worms, bugs etc.

A pair of Rooks feeding on small worms

A Lesser Black-backed Gull

Another excellent walk with 33 bird species seen. 2 Red Kite, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzard, Black-headed Gull, 10+ Herring Gull, 400+ Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker, dozens of Skylarks, Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 4 Blackbird, 11 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 5 Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Corn Bunting and 3 Yellowhammer. Also seen 5 Red Admiral, Drone Flies, a Noon Fly and wasps sp.

Roosting Birds

Quite a few Bird Species flying off to roost over Nythe estate this evening between 4:25pm and 4:51pm

South is towards Coate Water
East is towards Patheon (Pharmaceutical company, Dorcan Way)
West towards Greenbridge
North towards Cotswold Water Park

Time                  Number                  Species                              Direction Heading

4:25pm                 10                         Starlings                                  South

4:30pm                   3                         Pied Wagtails                           East
                              2                         Pied Wagtails                           East
                              1                         Grey Wagtail                            West
                              3                         Pied Wagtail                             West
                              9                         Starlings                                  South

4:35pm                   2                         Pied Wagtail                            West

4:36pm                   2                         Pied Wagtail                            West

4:37pm                   3                         Pied Wagtail                            South

4:38pm                   4                         Redwing                                  West

4:39pm                   1                         Pied Wagtail                            West

4:41pm                   5                         Pied Wagtail                            West
                              3                         Pied Wagtail                            South
                              2                         Pied Wagtail                            Local birds calling

4:45pm                   1                         Greenfinch                               West
                            14                         Lesser Black-backed Gulls        North

4:46pm                   1                          Pied Wagtail                            North

4:47pm                   9                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls      North

4:50pm                 31                          Pied Wagtail                            South
                            45                          Lesser Black-backed Gulls       North

4:51pm                   1                         Grey Wagtail                            South



Totals:

  58    Pied Wagtails
    2    Grey Wagtails
  19    Starlings
    4    Redwing
    1    Greenfinch
  54    Lesser Black-backed Gulls

A Vole in One

Apologies for the title, but it was very unfortunate for a Field Vole at Coate Water, when a Grey Heron spied it in the undergrowth and made a very quick meal out of it. I guess anything moving about in the long grass is fair game.

Closing in..........

Almost there........

Got it.......

One very unfortunate Field Vole 

And this was the last time it was seen

All a bit gruesome, but that's wildlife for you. A bit further around the lake I came across a Harlequin Ladybird which was scurrying around on fence.

Harlequin Ladybird

Along Broome Manor lane the Ivy flowers were providing food for a lot of wasps, but try as I could I couldn't find a single Hornet. And to think that the last two weekends have seen quite a few along this path. 

At the bottom end of the lake there was quite a lot of wildfowl with Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese and a few Mute Swans. In amongst them some good numbers of Coot with one or two Moorhens along the banks. A Little Grebe called out but disappeared before I could see it.

Two Wigeon, 3 Gadwall and a Coot

Just before the causeway there was a very friendly Grey Squirrel that seemed quite carefree as I approached it. Eventually it scampered off to waters edge for a drink and then sat there nibbling on some waterside plants.

A Grey Squirrel has his eye on me........

And then turned and started feeding on some green leaves.

At the causeway there was a solitary Tufted Duck, which was incredibly black apart from a slight tinge of white. Not sure why she was on her own!

A very dark looking female Tufted Duck

Above the causeway a pair of Goldfinches were singing away and a little further on 3 Carrion Crows were upsetting the Jackdaws by sitting in their favourite tree.

One of a pair of Goldfinches singing above me

This Carrion Crow was an unwelcome visitor to the local Jackdaws tree.

Along the tree line towards the children's play park a flock of tits flew past with a Chiffchaff and Coal Tit in amongst the Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits. And finally in amongst the fallen leaves a moth that I have yet to identify. Not sure what I did wrong but the photo is very poor quality.

Moth sp.

Birds Recorded:Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Also seen Field Vole, Wood Mouse, wasps sp., Blue Bottles and a moth sp.

A Blustery Day

Despite the wind it was actually quite a decent day with the sun out and the thermometer reading a pleasant 18°C. As I pulled up the kitchen blind a Red Admiral flew towards me and rested on the bricks to the side of the window. It stayed long enough for me to take its photo before flying off. Also in the garden were a few Drone Flies and several Ladybirds in flight.

Red Admiral soaking up the morning sun

In the afternoon we took Benji for a walk around a very busy Coate Water. The mild weather was certainly getting people out and about. Listening to the birds calling was a bit difficult with the wind rustling the leaves continuously, but I did find several mixed tit flocks made up of predominately Long-tailed Tits with a few Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrests and Treecreepers in amongst them. 

The Hornets had moved onto another Ivy bush, but just a little bit further down Broome Manor Lane and in amongst them were a few wasp sp. and Blue Bottles.

One of the few Hornets feeding on the Ivy flowers

In the woods on the far side of Coate (near the cattery) I came across a few bracket fungi on a fallen tree trunk. They were just a dull brown colour underneath but a very reddish colour from above. Another one to identify!

Some Bracket fungi sp.

Quite reddish in colour

By the causeway a Heron was staring into the water and a few Great Crested Grebes were in the reserve. Just before the water cascades into the main lake a huge shoal of silver fish were on the concrete shelf. From above they did look like Roach and there was an awful lot of them.

A Grey Heron on the lookout for his next meal!

The Swan numbers on the water are quite impressive with upwards of 40+, I will endeavour to count them properly one of these days. But with the wind gusting away they looked quite impressive with their feathers blowing about.

Swans as far as the eye can see

Probably a good 40+ at Coate

Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, 40+ Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. 

Also seen Hornets, wasp sps. and Blue Bottles

An Afternoon Stroll

Highlights of a good walk around the main lake at Coate this afternoon, were lots of Hornets feeding on the Ivy flowers at the far end of Coate along Broome Manor lane. Also quite a few Mute Swans with at least 40 counted. Not too many Tufted Duck, but quite a few Gadwall and Mallard and it was nice to see a/the pair of Aylesbury Ducks by the platform.

One of many Hornets feeding on the Ivy

The Aylesbury's

By the causeway there was a dead rabbit in the water, which I assume fell in and couldn't get out! Quite a few Great Crested Grebes and both 1st year and adult Black-headed Gulls in winter plumage. Also amongst the gulls a couple of Herring Gulls and Common Gull.

Great Crested Grebe

Adult Black-headed Gull almost in winter plumage

A 1st year Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull probably 4th winter

Other birds of note were 2 Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail and a Jay by the main entrance to the park.

Birds recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, 40+ Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. Also seen Hornets

Finches Galore

Its amazing where the time goes, the last time I sat down to add anything to my Blog was back in September. But with the news that hundreds of Redwing had passed over our heads last night, it seemed like an excellent idea to get out of the house for an hour and visit Folly Farm.

But what an anti-climax, there wasn't a single one to be found, let alone heard. All I can say is that the south coast must heaving with them. When Nigel Pleass contacted me last night at around 9:11pm to let me know that the skies above were filled with calling Redwing, I also went outside and heard them, on and off right up until midnight. In amongst them were Song Thrushes calling and I even had a Fieldfare.

What I did find was 5 Blackbirds and 2 Song Thrushes in the copse. However in the stubble fields there were plenty of finches with really good numbers of Linnets, split into two flocks of 80+ and 40+ with latter having a few Corn Bunting in amongst them. A large flock of Skylarks and Meadow Pipit took off as I arrived and headed off towards Lower Upham Farm.

Many Linnets in the fields

And another flock

Linnets in flight

Just a few of the 150+ Linnet at Folly Farm

An undercarriage shot

The second flock of Linnets with a few Corn Bunting in amongst them.

Away from the fields and in the hedgerows were 3 Chiffchaffs with one singing and as I started my walk down the track a Great Spotted Woodpecker landed in a dead tree 50 meters in front of me, before flying off to the base of Liddington Hill. The ivy is now out in flower and there were a lot of bees and wasps feeding off it, plus a Red Admiral. Across the field a Kestrel sat in a tree and another was hovering above Liddington Hill.

One of two Kestrel seen here today

One of two female Pheasants in the copse

Birds Recorded: 2 Kestrel, 2 Pheasant, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20+ Skylark, 4 Swallow, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Dunnock, 2 Robin, 5 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff (1 singing), 12+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, 150+ Linnet, Goldfinch, 5 Corn Bunting and 2 Yellowhammer. Also lots of wasps sp., bees sp. and a Red Admiral.

I left Folly Farm and headed off to Foxhill where I was greeted by a huge flock of 300+ finches, most looked like Linnet, but they flew out of sight before I could see what else was in amongst them. A Red Kite came into view and was trying to get away from 3 Rooks that continually mobbed it. Down by the mast a Chiffchaff was calling and there was a tit flock moving through the hedgerow.

A Red Kite is helped along its way by 3 Rooks.

Foxhill: 1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Rook, Chaffinch, 300+ Linnet and Goldfinch.