Over the past fortnight or so, when the sun has been shining, the trees around where I live have been beautiful in showing off the many colours of autumn, including all shades of yellow, red and brown, all mixed in with greens as the leaves start to turn.
I have always marvelled as to how the trees manage to look so wonderful, even though it is for only a short space of time.
Temperatures for October in this part of England have been fairly mild to say the least, which is a bonus, I hope it continues.
On the birding front at Moor Green Lakes, the duck numbers are steadily increasing as they fly in for the winter. A returning AYTHYA HYBRID (Pochard x Ferruginous Duck) has returned for its fifth year here.
RUFF stayed at the New Workings until the 8th and a large flock of over one hundred LINNETS were regularly seen there, feeding at the infill site. I saw my first winter small flock of REDWING on the 19th and the BARN OWL was seen sunbathing at the entrance to the owl box on sunny days.
It was off to Keyhaven/Pennington on the 20th on a calm sunny day. Hundreds off BRENT GOOSE had arrived from their breeding grounds, with probably many more yet to come. A female MARSH HARRIER flew along the Avon flood area looking for prey, magnificent with the early morning sunlight shining across its wings.
Three DARTFORD WARBLER were seen along with RED BREASTED MERGANSER, five SWALLOW feeding around the Shoveler pools, eighteen PINTAIL, some still in moult, SPOTTED REDSHANK and a GREENSHANK as well as the usual supporting cast of more common birds. All in all a very enjoyable day.
I have always marvelled as to how the trees manage to look so wonderful, even though it is for only a short space of time.
Temperatures for October in this part of England have been fairly mild to say the least, which is a bonus, I hope it continues.
On the birding front at Moor Green Lakes, the duck numbers are steadily increasing as they fly in for the winter. A returning AYTHYA HYBRID (Pochard x Ferruginous Duck) has returned for its fifth year here.
RUFF stayed at the New Workings until the 8th and a large flock of over one hundred LINNETS were regularly seen there, feeding at the infill site. I saw my first winter small flock of REDWING on the 19th and the BARN OWL was seen sunbathing at the entrance to the owl box on sunny days.
It was off to Keyhaven/Pennington on the 20th on a calm sunny day. Hundreds off BRENT GOOSE had arrived from their breeding grounds, with probably many more yet to come. A female MARSH HARRIER flew along the Avon flood area looking for prey, magnificent with the early morning sunlight shining across its wings.
Three DARTFORD WARBLER were seen along with RED BREASTED MERGANSER, five SWALLOW feeding around the Shoveler pools, eighteen PINTAIL, some still in moult, SPOTTED REDSHANK and a GREENSHANK as well as the usual supporting cast of more common birds. All in all a very enjoyable day.
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