Monday, October 6, 2014

Miscellaneous Birding

I never got around to posting from Sunday, not that there was much to report, and then Monday morning was a bit of a wash out. So here’s a little of everything including a photo or two from Skiathos 10th to 14 September and a spot of garden ringing.

Sunday morning was intended to be an hour two at Conder Green but the way through the A588 at Pilling was blocked by road signs. Maybe there was yet another overnight accident on this most infamous of roads? So I “did” Fluke Hall and environs instead where things were pretty quiet.

The highlight was finding 6 Song Thrush in the same stretch of hedgerow at Fluke Hall Lane, at one point four of them in the same binocular field of view. October 4th saw the first big Song Thrush movement of the autumn on the continent, with over 159,000 birds seen (vismig@yahoogroups.com).

The Song Thrush has suffered such a catastrophic decline in the UK that it something of an occasion to see a few together.

Song Thrush

Meanwhile back at Fluke Hall signs other signs of Autumn woodland birds included 2 Jays, extra numbers of Blackbirds, and then four or more Coal Tits and a single Goldcrest in a mixed flock of titmice.

At the woodland edge and close to the sea wall I found the regular 2 Buzzards, a nicely building flock of Woodpigeon whose numbers are now close to 300 and a single Snipe. Likewise the Jackdaw flock is on the increase to 70+ birds while Skylarks on the stubble and along the sea wall numbered more than 60. There were good numbers of Pink-footed Geese out on the marsh, probably in excess of 4,000 birds.

On Monday it didn’t stop raining until 1pm by which time I couldn’t be bothered to set out birding so instead caught a number of birds in the garden, 11 Goldfich, 2 Chaffinch 1 Goldcrest and 2 Greenfich, one of the latter a corker of an adult male.

Greenfinches are not quite as scarce as Song Thrushes, but heading that way it seems.

Greenfinch

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Goldcrest

Here’s few leftovers from Skiathos, a Yellow Wagtail plus a Red-backed Shrike that tormented me daily in the grounds of our hotel, The Ostria. The list of birds seen at The Ostria included Red-rumped Swallow, Barn Swallow, Bee Eater, Scops Owl, Little Owl, Buzzard, Spotted Flycatcher, Alpine Swift, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellow Wagtail and of course a daily Red-backed Shrike lurking along its favourite fence or fig tree.

Red-backed Shrike

 Red-backed Shrike

Yellow Wagtail

The Ostria - Skiathos

The Ostria is a lovely peaceful hotel set in landscaped grounds, and as the brochures might say were it in any of them, "close to all amenities". It is family owned and supervised on site by the delightful and welcoming Mathinou family - The Ostria Skiathos.

More birding from home and abroad soon on Another Bird Blog.

Linking today to Theresa's Fences and Stewart's World Bird Wednesday
 

31 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

the shrike is just beautiful!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It's really encouraging to read the account of the Song Thrushes. Dare we hope that there might be a rebound in their numbers?

Linda said...

I always look forward to your posts, Phil, and this one is no exception. Glorious photos!

A Colorful World said...

Such wonderful photos as always! I love getting to see so many species. That hotel is so nice as well. Would love to stay there!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

So many bird species are becoming endangered or rare. Hate that. The ones you show are so beautiful.... both finches, green and gold, so much more colorful than the ones we see.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I've held and photographer, injured siskins and chaffinches, but never a goldcrest, in fact I rarely see them. Lovely, and so jealous.

Hootin Anni said...

My goodness, that shrike is marked so beautifully!!! And you know I love the Eurasian Goldfinch so much. Bud and I just came back from a couple hours out at one of our parks, not much in migration yet, but I too saw a thrush...maybe a Louisiana Thrush, not sure yet...gotta get the photos off the camera card.

EG CameraGirl said...

The Goldcrest is so tiny!

eileeninmd said...

Phil, I love all the birds in this post.. beautiful photos. The hotel in Greece looks nice.. Thanks for sharing, happy birding..

carol l mckenna said...

You have a treasure trove of seeing these beautiful birds and photographing them so well ~ Wow! Thanks!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Gorgeous little birds! We've been enjoying a spring with Scarlet Honeyeaters and Blue wrens in our yard as well as a couple of much bigger Pacific Bazas.

Germán Ibarra Zorrilla said...

Song Thrush population declined due to alos hunters, who do not give truce. Greetings from Spain.

Photo Cache said...

beautiful bird shots.

mick said...

The posts I enjoy most are the ones that make me check my own knowledge - and when I saw that great photo of the Song Thrush I tried to remember when I had seen one - it was many years ago when I was very young in New Zealand. Thanks for triggering my memories! Of course the other birds are beautiful too.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Love the Song Thrush. Marvellous to see 6 together. great shots of the Finches.

chai-and-chardonnay.blogspot.com said...

The shrike is so wonderful, all the birds are marvellously captured.

Janet Shaw said...

beautiful shrike

Findlay Wilde said...

Really good pictures to look through. We have had hardly any Chaffinches out ringing this year and not many Whitethroat, but a good year for Blackcaps. From Findlay

Unknown said...

Excellent images, Phil. The goldcrest is beautiful.

theconstantwalker said...

I've never seen a shrike... fingers crossed one day I will.

Karen said...

Such a treat to stop by your blog and see these wonderful photos!

Susan said...

Fabulous photos, Phil! The finches are all beautiful. Great shots of the Shrike and Song Thrush too.

Priyashi said...

Oh wow ! Lovely photos.... beautiful Birds...:)

Cranberry Morning said...

I wonder if they always manage to land on that fence without getting poked by the sharp wire.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

so many beauties. i love the yellow wagtail best ...that head (do they call that a crown of the head?) what a cutie. nice to meet you through Good Fence. take care. ( :

Tanya Breese said...

love them all! and wow, you can just catch those little finches?!! how awesome!

TexWisGirl said...

thanks, phil!

Ida said...

Goodness I had no idea there were so many different finches. They are all just adorable. I also like the shot of the bird on the chain link fencing and the last shot. Looks like a very lovely place to visit.

Adam Jones said...

That Shrike is a real stunner. Great pictures.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Wagtails look so grumpy.

They can compete with grumpy bunnies!
~

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Well your miscellaneous birding shares sure are wonderful, I love seeing all of those beautiful faces. I hope that you enjoy your weekend!

Related Posts with Thumbnails