Mostly Chaffinch

Sue and I had been for a meal at the curry joint last night, and then walking back home in the quiet darkness there seemed to be a number of Redwings flying over. It doesn’t always follow there will be birds left on the move by morning or that after a fine, clear night any will be grounded. When I peeked out of the door this morning in preparation for a spot of birding the trio of Fieldfares high in next door’s Sycamore followed by a gang of 20 or so overflying Redwings seemed a good omen.

Motoring down Lambs Lane I could see more Fieldfares going over, but with nowhere to stop I carried on to Fluke Hall and jumped from the car where a reasonable amount of movement was apparent. There was a steady movement of birds from the west and north-west to Fluke Hall and beyond, where the actual wood was jumping with Chaffinches plus the calls of at least 2 Bramblings – what a crying shame that no one is interested in mist netting this autumnal Chaffinch hot spot.

Chaffinch
Chaffinch

I walked to Ridge Farm and then back where the main feature was the continual west to east movement of Chaffinches following the sea wall and then disappearing into the trees at Fluke. Fieldfares with just the occasional Redwing kept going south and I can honestly say I didn’t see a single grounded one of either thrush among my count of 200+ Fieldfare and 45 Redwing. Very noticeable today were Reed Buntings with 11 along the route, 3 parties of Alba wagtails numbering 24+, three or more very mobile Blackbirds, and numbers of Tree Sparrows being either less shy than normal or more noticeable because they were part of the on-going movement.

Fieldfare
Redwing

I didn’t really count the shore stuff, it wasn’t where the action was, but I did note a pretty huge flock of pinkfeet, several Snipe and the usual jamboree of noisy Lapwings. By the time I got back to Fluke I’d counted over 200 Chaffinch and another Brambling, not a big tally for October but pretty good for an hour and a bit.

No visit to Pilling is complete without a walk from Lane Ends to Pilling Water where by now the Fieldfares and Redwings had tailed off completely, but Chaffinches and Reed Buntings were still on the move, if now a lot higher in the clearing sky. Counts from here: 20+ Chaffinch, 3 Reed Bunting, 8 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit, 5 Linnet, 2 Little Egret, 1 Raven, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Merlin, 2 Snipe, 1 Wheatear.

Wheatear
I hope it’s less breezy for the moss tomorrow to give us a crack at the thrushes and more Chaffinches.