I set out to explore the less-frequented extremities of my patch today with a walk out to High Chibburn Farm, Low Chibburn Preceptory and the northern dunes. I included the farm and the Preceptory in the patch boundary for some variety but I rarely get out that far. Today I was in search of Collared Doves and Yellowhammers. I failed on both counts.
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| Low Chibburn Preceptory |
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| The right of way back to the Reserve |
The farm is good for House Sparrows and the countryside around it can be good for Red-legged Partridge and today was no exception, otherwise I didn't see much. Walking back along the path to the hides, it was quite warm in the sunshine and out of the northerly wind and it brought out some late insects.
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| Male Common Darter |
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| Male Small Copper on Ragwort |
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| Migrant Hawker |
A single Whooper Swan was on the big pool and a Kestrel hunted along the road.
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| Kestrel hunting |
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| The Kestrel successfully caught a small mammal and flew off into the bushes with it |
In the weedy dunes there was a flock of at least 27 Reed Bunting - probably an undercount. I grilled them for any rarer buntings and the finch flock (about 120) didn't contain any Twite. Given that I walked 6km, I didn't come away with a huge list an the year list remains on 170.
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| One of the Reed Bunting flock |
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| Male Blackcap in the Elder |
Last night I had an hour grilling the scoter flock for the potential Surf Scoter, no luck but there were 22 Red-throated Divers and a handful of Razorbills with the Scoters.
Six Whooper Swans came in-off and another five went south and landed on the sea opposite the Drift Cafe. Here are a couple of arty-shots as the first six flew west. My first Whoopers of the Autumn
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| Whooper Swans headed west |
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| Into the clouds... |
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