Saturday, 14 September 2024

Deepdale Farm - 14th September 2024

After a sustained spell of windy weather, the forecast told of a drop in the windy conditions, but this turned out to be false. The nets were wind affected and the chilly breeze gave a distinctly autumnal feel. No surprise then that we only had one summer migrant bird, a Chiffchaff, in the meagre catch of 12 birds. We might have been a bit happier had the Barn Owl that we saw in the net had stayed until we reached it, but this was not the case, and unsurprising given that we were using a 16*16 mesh for passerines.

Juvenile female Goldcrest

Skeins of Pinkfeet overhead and Marsh Harrier in flight brought another dimension to the morning as did three Migrant Hawkers sunning themselves in the hedge opposite, and a Chinese Water Deer that emerged from the field just a couple of feet from CL, startling us as much as it startled itself.

Migrant Hawkers amongst the rosehips

Total: 12

Blackbird - 0 (1)
Blue Tit - 2
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 1
Long-tailed Tit - 3 (2)
Wren - 2