Staines Moor: 21 April

A full day at the patch today produced some good spring passage but also proved very frustrating for photography, with few birds cooperating. A female Ring Ouzel in the NW corner briefly soon after dawn was a great start but unfortunately was only seen for a few seconds as it flew from the hawthorns near the Butts north onto Stanwell Moor. While trying to relocate it, 3 Barnacle Geese flew over south - probably feral birds.

A smart male Whinchat in the NW corner was the first patch record of the year, and other passage migrants included 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Yellow Wagtail (1m around the horses and 1 over N), 1 Common Swift E, 1 Reed Warbler (Butts Pond), 1 Sedge Warbler (hawthorns NW corner), 3 (1H) Common Whitethroat, 4m Lesser Whitethroat, 7+ Common Tern (5E, 2+ fishing in the Colne), 3 House Martin (2N, 1 Colne), 11 Barn Swallow (mainly NE/N), 21+ Sand Martin (mainly NE/N), 11 Blackcap (8m, 2f, 1H), and 7 (3H) Common Chiffchaff.

Male Whinchat in the NW corner today - the first record on the patch this year

Presumed feral Barnacle Geese south over Staines Moor this morning

Also noted were 3 Shelduck E (2m, 1f), 2 Gadwall (1m, 1f), 1m Stonechat still at the south end (female incubating perhaps?), 5 Redshank (2 pairs and a single along the Colne), 2 Northern Lapwing (1N, 1SW), 3 Common Buzzard (including 1 pale phase), 5 Red Kite, 1f Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Little Egret (Colne), 1-2 Coot (Colne), 26+ Linnet, lots of Skylark and Meadow Pipit, 8 Reed Bunting (6m , 2f), 1H Cett's Warbler (hedge east of Butts Pond), and a pair of Long-tailed Tit building a nest. Also plenty of Yellow Dung Flies Scathophaga stercorariasaw around today and saw my first Speckled Wood of the year.

1 of 5 Redshank on site today

A pair of Long-tailed Tits had almost finished this nest in one of the hawthorns in the NW corner today

3 horses and 34 cattle have now been put out to graze - I'd like to order a male Black-headed Wagtail please.

Staines Moor: 14 April

A little vis mig overhead at the patch today but far fewer grounded migrants present. A Eurasian Curlew over low W early morning is only my third patch record, and 1 House Martin N and 10 Barn Swallow (7 W, 2 NE and 1 lingering) were both my first of the year. 9 Sand Martin (4N, 2NW, 3S), 2 Northern Lapwing (1 SW, 1N), 4 Common Buzzard and 1 Linnet NNW were also noted.

2f Northern Wheatear ranging widely at the north end, 2 (1H) Lesser Whitethroat (hawthorns in NW corner and on west side), 11 Common Chiffchaff (including the ringed female nest building along Bonehead Ditch) and 2m Blackcap were the only migrants logged on the ground .

Eurasian Curlew over west this morning

1 of 2 Northern Wheatear present today, showing down to 5 metres this afternoon

The pair of Stonechat were still present in the SE corner (I wonder if they are attempting to breed?), and 2 Redshank, 22 Linnet, 7 (6m, 1f) Reed Bunting, 1 Kingfisher (Bonehead Ditch), 3 Red Kite, 1-2f Eurasian Sparrowhawk (inc. 1 perched in Bonehead woodland), 2 (1m, 1f) Kestrel, 2 Little Egret (Colne), 3 Grey Heron (a high site count), 1 Canada Goose W, and plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipit were also logged.

Inverts noted include 2 Large Bee-fly Bombylius major (Bonehead Ditch), 1m Brimstone, and 1 Peacock. Stanwell Moor added 3 Barn Swallow and another 8 Common Buzzard.

Staines Moor Black Stork accepted

Heard today via Twitter that my Black Stork over Staines Moor on 18th September has been accepted by The 10 Rare Men. Just in time for Crimbo - super!

#BBRCdecision :Ref No 6004 Accepted-Black Stork 18-Sep-15 Staines Moor,Surrey

— TheBBRC (@_BBRC) December 24, 2015

Staines Moor: 28 October

A long but rather unproductive day at the patch in terms of fresh migrants and overhead passage. 3 Water Pipit along the Colne is an increase, a site-wide count of 27 Goldcrest is a new patch record (but again no Firecrest or Yellow-browed Warbler amongst them) and 2 Short-eared Owl (first reported on 25 October) were hunting on and off throughout the day on the east side, and seen to catch a small mammal on two occasions. A slight increase in Blackbirds was noticeable with 11 noted, along with 5 Song Thrush but just a single Fieldfare (where are all the thrushes?) and Dunnocks seemed more noticeable than usual as well with 8 (1H) noted with no effort and Robins were everywhere. A flock of 18 Skylark on the east side was notable as was just 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail and 3 Pied Wagtail along the Colne, 8 (5m, 3f) Stonechat, and 2 Reed Bunting.

Vis mig amounted to nothing more than c.65 Eurasian Wigeon E, 3 Fieldfare SW, 2 Skylark (1 NW, 1 SE), 1 Linnet E and 1 Greenfinch E.

Regulars noted include 2 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2+ Kestrel, 45+ Black-headed Gull 'flycatching' over the grassland for much of the day, 4 more Greenfinch and 1H Cetti's Warbler (in reeds by the northern footbridge).

An hour spotlighting after dark on the west side produced just 1(H) Common Snipe and a Grey Heron flushed accidentally from roost along the River Wraysbury. It won't be long before the first Woodcock arrive for the winter I'm sure.

One of three Water Pipits along the Colne today. Darn camera wouldn't focus - how much is that 7D Mark II?

A trickle of migrants overhead: 24 October

A few very quiet hours at Staines Moor today with a just a little vis mig overhead. 2 Golden Plover over W and 1f Brambling WSW then dropping down into the willows along the Colne (by the northern footbridge) were the highlights. Also noted overhead were 1 Water Pipit N, 8 Fieldfare WSW (the first of the winter, dropping down briefly in the hawthorns in the NW corner), 1 redpoll sp. W, 14 Chaffinch SW, 1 Linnet S, 1 Greenfinch N, 1 Goldfinch W, 1 Pied Wagtail W, 3 Mistle Thrush S and 1 Song Thrush S.

Rubbish pic of one of two Golden Plover over west today

Female Brambling heading WSW before dropping down into willows by the Colne where it stayed for about 15 minutes

On the ground, 1(H) Redwing, 10 Stonechat (7m, 3f), 4 Goldcrest, 2f/imm. Reed Bunting, 32 Meadow Pipit (east side), 1m Kingfisher (Colne), 1+ Little Egret (Colne), 1+m Pied Wagtail, c100 Goldfinch (mainly around the thistles at the south end), another 5 Greenfinch, 2 Kestrel and 2-3 Egyptian Goose (2W, 1E). A Red Fox (on the northern footbridge) and lots of huge Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera (on the west side) today.

Stanwell Moor added a Common Buzzard.

A good show of Parasol Mushrooms Macrolepiota procera on Staines Moor this year - many are huge!

Potted a Feathered Thorn on the kitchen window last night - photographed this morning.

Feathered Thorn Colotois pennaria, Worcester Park, 24 October

Goldcrest influx: 13 October

Another very quiet day at Staines Moor. No hoped-for Yellow-browed Warbler or Firecrest, but a noticeable increase in Goldcrests (no doubt birds arriving on the east coast filtering through) with at least 19 counted, by far the highest day count for the patch, including 5 together in a mixed Long-tailed/Great/Blue Tit flock along Bonehead Woodland.

Goldcrest, Staines Moor, 13 October

Goldcrest, Staines Moor, 13 October

Goldcrest, Staines Moor, 13 October

Goldcrest, Staines Moor, 13 October

Other migrants on the ground included 7 Stonechat (4m, 3f), 4 (2H) Chiffchaff, 4 Skylark, 16+ Meadow Pipit and 1-2 Grey Wagtail (that might be wintering birds rather than on passage).

Passage overhead was almost non-existent but for 1m Siskin (over NE then circling and dropping into the willows at the north end of the Colne after I mimicked its call!), 4 Chaffinch N, 2 Greenfinch (W and NE), 4 Linnet NE. At dusk, a few Linnet flocks totalling 33 birds moving over NE were noted dropping down to roost in the scrub on the west side.

Also noted: 1+ Little Egret, 2 Reed Bunting (1m, 1f), another 2 Greenfinch, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzard (locals), 3 Kestrel, 1m Pied Wagtail, 1H Cetti's Warbler (reeds in Colne by northern footbridge), 1f Common Pheasant, a Stoat running across the Moor Lane footpath (patch tick) and a female Migrant Hawker.

Stanwell Moor added 8 (5m, 3f) Eurasian Wigeon over E.

Autumn migration in north-east Poland: 26 September - 3 October

A mix of departing summer migrants and incoming winter visitors were on the move in Poland last week, with migration evident at both Białowieża Forest and Biebrza Marshes including visible passage overhead and plenty of common migrants on the ground. Overhead passage consisted mainly of noisy flocks of Common Cranes, small groups or singles of Eurasian Jays (with many present in Białowieża Forest), Yellowhammers, Siskins, Chaffinches, Tree Sparrows, White Wagtails and a few raptors, mostly heading in a south-east to south-west direction. On the ground, Common Chiffchaffs were seemingly everywhere, and Yellowhammers, Greenfinches, White Wagtails and Black Redstarts were not uncommon. A few notebook entries below.

An hour's skywatching from the hotel balcony at Hotel Białowieża on 27 September produced 24 Eurasian Jay mainly SE (plus 2 local birds), 3 Common Chiffchaff feeding then off SE, 9 Raven E, 3 Chaffinch SE, 1 Siskin and 1 Song Thrush SW. Also on the 27th, 176+ Common Crane were counted over Białowieża town throughout the day.

A ploughed field on the north side of Białowieża town by the police station attracted a number of passage migrants. On the 28 September, 7 1st-W/f Black Redstart, 30+ Yellowhammer, 7+ White Wagtail, 10 Chaffinch (4 over SE) and 1 Common Chiffchaff were present, as well as 18 Common Crane over SE and 12 White Stork SE. Just c6 Yellowhammer being hunted by 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk (pic below) were present on 29th. On the 30th, 1 Great Grey Shrike, 1f Brambling, 1 Linnet, 1 1st-W/f Black Redstart, c13 Yellowhammer, 3 Chaffinch and 2 White Wagtail were noted, along with a Kestrel and a 1st-W m Eurasian Sparrowhawk over S.

Common Cranes, Kosy Most Bridge, Białowieża Forest, 28 September. V formations of Common Cranes were
frequently seen (and heard) throughout the day moving south-west over Białowieża Forest.

1st-W male Eurasian Sparrowhawk hunting Yellowhammers in a ploughed field at Białowieża town, 29 September

Around Biebrza Marshes notable migrants included: 21 Barn Swallow S over Fort 1 "Zarzeczny", just south of Osowiec (hirundines were very scarce throughout the trip) on 1 October, and 52+ Common Crane in fields east of Karwowo on 1st, and a similar number of Common Crane, 2 Fieldfare S, a small flock of Tree Sparrow, 7 White Wagtail (dropped down to the ground), 1 Siskin, 3 Reed Bunting, 1m Yellowhammer, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, and 2 Goldfinch at Bialy Grad (near the village of Mścichy) all on 1st.

Part of a 28 strong flock of Common Cranes east of the village of Radziłów, Biebrza Marshes, 1 October

Common Cranes, Bialy Grad, Biebrza Marshes, 1 October. Several large flocks were feeding in the fields around Biebrza Marshes,
as well as roosting out on the marshes.

On 2nd, fields east of Plochowo held 30+ Mistle Thrush, 6+ White Wagtail and 2 Chaffinch, with 7 Barn Swallow and 9 Chaffinch SE overhead. At Wólka Piaseczna 5+ Black Redstart (2 ad m, 1 1st-W m, 1 f and 1 1st-W f), 2 Yellowhammer, 5 Northern Lapwing, 1f Hen Harrier WSW, a 1st-W Nothern Goshawk WSW and 4 Jay over were noted, as well as 1 Honey Buzzard flushed from woodland at Brzeziny Kapickie and another 8 Mistle Thrush there.

Also on 2nd, a Peregrine went over SW at Grzedy and an hour late afternoon skywatching at the bridge over the River Jegrznia near Kuligi produced 2 Fieldfare S, 28 Siskin S (including several dropping down into the reeds by the river then heading off W), 2 Greenfinch S, 1 Mistle Thrush SE, 5 Chaffinch SW-WSW, several Yellowhammer SW, 3 Eurasian Jay SW, and 2 Common Chiffchaff in the reeds. At dusk 9 Tundra (rossicus) Bean Geese in a flock of 24 European (albifrons) White-fronted Geese (all adults except for a pair with 3 juveniles) in a stubble field east of Jezioro Tajno lake near Tajenko were also seen.

1st-W Black Redstart, Wólka Piaseczna, Biebrza Marshes, 2 October. Small numbers were present in the fields around Białowieża
Forest and Biebrza Marshes, mainly 1st-W/female types.

The cemetery and the surrounding fields at Osowiec was also attracting migrant passerines. An hour or so on the 3rd produced 2m Brambling in with c100 Yellowhammer, 102+ Greenfinch, 14 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 293 European Starling, 1 White Wagtail, 8 Tree Sparrow (2 S), 4 Skylark off W, 1 Fieldfare S, 8 Barn Swallow S, 1 Eurasian Jay S, 2 Chaffinch S and 1 Blackbird SW.

Small numbers of Yellowhammer were moving over and large numbers as well as feeding in the fields. This was one of a flock of
approximately 100 feeding around the cemetery on the edge of the village of Osowiec, Biebrza, on 3 October.

1st-W male Greenfinch, Osowiec cemetery, Biebrza Marshes, 3 October. One of a flock of at least 102 present here.

One of two male Brambling in with the Greenfinch flock at Osowiec cemetery, Biebrza Marshes, 3 October

Dream patch bird becomes a reality: 18 September

The birding on Staines Moor today was just bonkers! Good numbers of grounded migrants, a strong passage overhead, two previously found scarce migrants to look for, and a once in a lifetime BBRC-CAT A find and patch first.

At 15:08 I was searching the hawthorns and brambles near The Butts for the Wryneck when I noticed a large dark shape moving slowly west high over the center of the moor - "what the f*** is that?". Before I'd even raised my bins I knew from the size and shape that it was a stork and I had a strong suspicion which species - BLACK STORK!! The camera was already on my 'bird in flight' custom setting so I hurriedly took a few photos before running full speed southwards across the anthills, proper loon-style, with tripod, scope, camera, binoculars and rucksack flailing around while yelling Black Stork at the top of my voice to alert the two birders around the scrub nearby on the west side. The stork veered south-westwards away from me but I managed to get one birder onto it before it disappeared from sight.

This individual appears to be a juvenile - when I zoom in on the images the legs and bill appear to lack any bright red, and the neck (especially the base) seems to be brown rather than black. However, this could be an effect of distance and harsh sunlight? If accepted this will be the sixth record for London, following a juvenile at Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve on 4 August 2010¹, and the third for Surrey.

Black Stork over Staines Moor, 18 September 2015

Black Stork over Staines Moor heading off WSW over the pylons

This zoomed-in pixelated image shows the dark brownish bill, dark legs and brownish neck which ages this bird as a juvenile.

Grounded migrants noted today included the Wryneck (which I managed to see well near dusk in the NW corner), 3(2m, 1f) Stonechat, (NW corner), 7 Whinchat (NW corner), 1 1st-W Northern Wheatear (W side), 14 Yellow Wagtail around the livestock, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (NW corner), 3 Common Whitethroat (NW corner), 1m Blackcap (old railway), 4(1H) Common Chiffchaff, c47 Meadow Pipit, 9+ Skylark, and an influx of Robin, and I didn't even manage to look at the east side.

Stonechat passage peaks later than Whinchat. Three were present today including this female

A strong passage of hirundines, mostly in the morning, probably numbered in the thousands for Barn Swallow and House Martin, but I counted a minimum of 329 Barn Swallow (SWS), 125 House Martin SW and 31 Sand Martin SW, along with 12(1H) Siskin S, 1 Yellow Wagtail S (dropping down to the livestock), 2 1st-W Hobby, 2 Red Kite SW and 1 Common Buzzard W.

Also noted: 1 imm. Green Woodpecker (evidence of successful nesting), 1m Kingfisher near dusk (Colne), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (River Wraysbury), another Common Buzzard (probably one of the resident individuals), 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Little Egret (Colne), Grey Heron, 1+ Kestrel, and Goldfinch flock in the SW corner numbered at least 258. Invertebrates included 1 Comma, and 3 Small Heath. Lots of interesting fungi noted, but more about these another time.

¹ Self, A. (2014) The Birds of London. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Staines Moor's forth Great White Egret: 16 August

My first visit to the patch in an age went rather well. 2 Whinchat associating with an early Stonechat and, bizarrely 2 Common Whitethroat, at the north end was a good start. I had only been on site an hour and was just despairing at how overgrown the moor is with Creeping and Spear Thistles, when I glanced up and noticed a Great White Egret heading low north. After dropping down onto Stanwell Moor, the bird returned an hour later where it proceeded to be harassed by the local Grey Herons while trying to fish in the Colne. After almost being chased off over KGVI Reservoir by a Grey Heron it returned and showed well beside the Colne where it managed to catch at least one fish. This is the forth record for Staines Moor following 1 on 10 November 2013.

A little vis mig overhead with 10+ Common Swift, 2 Sand Martin E, 1 House Martin E, 19 Barn Swallow (mainly SW, some E), 5 Northern Lapwing NW, 1 alba wagtail E and small numbers of Goldfinch SE. Also noted: c200 Goldfinch feeding on the abundance of thistles (mainly at the southern end), 1+ Little Egret, 2+ Linnet, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 4 Stock Dove, just 1-2 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Heron and 7 Canada Goose E. Lots of Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens, Meadow Brown and a few Small Heaths around today as well.

Stanwell Moor added 2 Hobby, c6 (5H) Chiffchaff and 1H Blackcap.

Staines Moor's forth Great White Egret, present on and off from 14:48 until 17:05 today and showing extremely well at times

Rather overshadowed by the egret was today's Stonechat - an early autumn passage record for Staines Moor

I've never seen Staines Moor so overgrown with thistles. The area north of the channel in the SW corner and the whole of the SE
corner is smothered (these are Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense). I despair at the the so-called 'management' of the moor by
Spelthorne Borough Council.

South-east Devon: 8th - 9th November

Back from a very enjoyable weekend birding around Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth with my other half the RAW Baker and good friends the Cream Tea Birder and the Cream Tea Bird.

Strong southerlies and rain Saturday morning (8th) promised some good seawatching but unfortunately I missed out due to very painful headache. A look at the sea in much calmer conditions in the afternoon logged just 4+ Kittiwake W, several Northern Gannet, several Shag, a Common Gull and 3 Oystercatcher. A pleasant but equally quiet walk around the Otter Estuary late afternoon produced 1m Stonechat, 3 Black-tailed Godwit (scrape), several Curlew, 1m Shoveler, 134 Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, lots of Eurasian Teal, 1 Little Egret and a Cetti's Warbler (H). A mumeration of 2,894 Starling gave a fantastic display over the reedbed north of the scrape at dusk, along with an immature Peregrine (that made a kill) and a Sparrowhawk (that didn't).

Very light south-westerlies, largely clear skies (4 oktas) and some sea mist this morning (9th) looked good for some late autumn vis mig, and dawn found us in our chosen east-facing position along the South West Coast Path on the west side of Budleigh Salterton. A two hour session produced 856 Woodpigeon W, 1 Stock Dove W, 1f Bullfinch W, 96 Chaffinch W, 42 Goldfinch W, 15 Meadow Pipit W, 6+ (4H) Skylark SW and 4 Linnet E. Robins were seemingly everywhere and 1+ Peregrine, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a Goldcrest were also noted. Nearby at Jubilee Park 2 Firecrest and 1 Goldcrest showed very well but proved too quick for photos, and a late Painted Lady shot past.

An afternoon walk along the Ex Estuary from Exmouth to Mudbank produced 1 Greenshank, several Little Egret, numerous Curlew, several Brent Geese, and a superb 1st winter male Black Redstart flycatching from a roof at Harbour Court, Exmouth (many thanks to Matt Knott).

A look at the Otter Estuary late evening added 1 Kingfisher and a single Northern Lapwing on the scrape, along with 1 Redshank, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and 3 Rock Pipit and c40 Pied Wagtail on the beach. Curiously, no Starlings came in to roost at the reedbed this evening.

1st winter male Black Redstart at Harbour Court in Exmouth, 9 November 2014

European Robin, South West Coast Path, Budleigh Salterton, 9 November 2014 - almost trod on this chap

Common Starling, Otter Estuary, 8 November 2014

Common Starling, Otter Estuary, 8 November 2014

Distant brents: 30 October

Spent a few hours at the patch this morning. Vis mig at Staines Moor produced 6 Brent Goose SW early morning (very distant - probably over Staines Reservoirs), 1 Shelduck E, 1 very pale Common Buzzard SW, 1 Red Kite NE, 17 Linnet S, 2 Chaffinch SW, 1 Reed Bunting SW, 4 Greenfinch S, 6 Pied Wagtail (3S, 1E, 1W) and 3 Stock Dove (NW, SW, W).

Also on Staines Moor, 1 Short-eared Owl flushed on the east side, 2 Water Pipit along the Colne, 10 Stonechat (7m, 3f), 1 1st winter Common Gull on the Colne (unusual here) with 50+ Black-headed Gull (also hawking over the moor), 3 Little Egret, 1 Common Snipe (east side), 1 Collared Dove in the NE corner along Bonehead Ditch (scarce here), 1+ Grey Wagtail, 2+ Pied Wagtail, 29+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Little Grebe, 1+ Kingfisher, 2 Common Buzzard (perched up along Bonehead Ditch), 11 Goldfinch on the east side, 3 Kestrel (including a female eating a vole), 3-5 Mallard, 1+ Grey Heron and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Stanwell Moor added 1 Water Pipit S, 9 Northern Shoveler E and 1m Northern Shoveler on the lake, 2f Common Teal, and 3 Redwing SW at Stanwell Moor Village. Also, over King George VI Reservoir 5 Lapwing S.

Today's Brent Geese (honest they are!)

Short-eared Owl on the east side of Staines Moor today

Two very vocal Water Pipits showed well today along the Colne and flying around overhead

Weather: Cloudy (7 oktas) and slightly misty early morning, becoming brighter late morning, light SW wind, mild.

Starlings and Chaffinches on the move: 26 October

Skywatching at Staines Moor today produced 1,578 Starling NW, 135 Chaffinch SW (mostly in one hour from 11:00), 2 Siskin S, 13 Linnet (mainly S), 2 Greenfinch (1N, 1S), 14 Goldfinch (12S, 2SW), 1 Reed Bunting S, 33 Redwing (mainly SW), 3 Song Thrush S, 2 Pied Wagtail (1S, 1W) 3 alba wagtail (1E, 1W, 1S), 6 Skylark NW, 65 Woodpigeon (mainly SW), 4 Stock Dove (3SW, 1E), 2 Collared Dove S, 4 Gadwall E and 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker (2W, 1E).

Also 3 Water Pipit along the Colne and around the iris channels in the NW corner, 1 Green Sandpiper flew off SW from the Colne early morning, 9 Stonechat (4m, 5f), 1 Little Egret, 3+ Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 2 more Song Thrush, 2 more Pied Wagtail along the Colne, 6 more Greenfinch, c19 Meadow Pipit, 6 Skylark, 10 more Goldfinch, 5 more Reed Bunting, 1 Mistle Thrush (old railway), 1 Goldcrest (old railway), 3+ Common Buzzard, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 3+ Kestrel and a Water Rail heard from the reeds along the Colne.

Stanwell Moor added 14 more Chaffinch SW, 1 Common Snipe, 3m Teal, 2 Gadwall and 6 Mallard. Also another Chaffinch SW over Stanwell Moor Village.

135 Chaffinch logged today moving south-west in small quite loose flocks, mostly in one hour from 11:00

One of three Water Pipits at Staines Moor today

Weather: Cloudy (8 oktas) becoming slightly brighter in the afternoon (7 octas), very light SW wind becoming moderate late morning, cold.

Another Ring Ouzel

Very little vis mig today but managed a few good sightings nevertheless. The highlight was a 1st winter female Ring Ouzel picked up circling high over the east side of Staines Moor at 13:34, and dropping down onto the top of the tallest bare tree along the north end of Bonehead Ditch. After reappearing in another bare tree the bird flew and wasn't seen again.

Other passage overhead included 1 Common Snipe S, 1 Mistle Thrush SW, 3 Reed Bunting S, 9 Linnet S, 1 Chaffinch S, 2 Skylark S, 17 Goldfinch (10S, 7N), 4 Stock Dove (2W, 2E), c80 Woodpigeon (mainly SW). Also a small fall of c12 Song Thrush in the hawthorns in the NW corner included 2+ Fieldfare, 5 Redwing and 7 Blackbird, before eventually moving off south.

Along the Colne, 1 Green Sandpiper flew off SW early morning, 1+ Water Pipit, 14 Canada Goose (unusual here nowadays) grazing along the bank of the Colne before being flushed by a dog walker, 2+ Grey Wagtail, 2+ Pied Wagtail, 3 Little Egret and 2 Little Grebe. Also noted: 9 (4m, 5f) Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler showed well along Bonehead Ditch, 2 Common Buzzard along Bonehead Ditch, 21 Skylark, 8 Greenfinch, and another 20 Goldfinch.

Stanwell Moor added 2m Tufted Duck W, 6 Northern Shoveler E, another Goldcrest and Chiffchaff, and a flock of 46 Goldfinch along the footpath beside King George VI Reservoir.

Today's 1st winter female Ring Ouzel

Weather: Cloudy (7-8 oktas), WSW wind.

Woodpigeon passage over the patch: 22 October

Vis mig at Staines Moor today produced a fairly decent movement of Woodpigeon with 2,449 over SSW (a new record count for Staines Moor), but was otherwise quiet with 1 Collared Dove S (surprisingly scarce on the open moor), 2 Peregrine S then 1 perching on the pylons, 9 Stock Dove S, 1 Redwing SE, 1 Mistle Thrush S, 1 Northern Lapwing S, 1 Reed Bunting S, 1 Grey Wagtail S, 1 alba wagtail S, 5+ Common Buzzard, 1+ Red Kite, 2 Egyptian Goose E, 8 Goldfinch S, 1 Greenfinch N and 2 Skylark NE.

Noted on the ground were 1 Fieldfare in hawthorns on the west side, 1+ Water Pipit along the Colne, 9 (5m, 4f) Stonechat scattered around the moor, 2-4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Little Grebe and 1 Little Egret all along the Colne, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Kingfisher on the northern footbridge, 1 Common Snipe on the east side, just c15 Meadow Pipit, a few Skylark, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, and 2+ Kestrel.

Also on Staines Moor 3 Red Admiral S, and a fantastic Dor Beetle Geotrupes stercorarius.

Stanwell Moor added another 165 Woodpigeon SSW, 41 Eurasian Wigeon W, 3 Northern Lapwing E, and 1 Red-legged Partridge in car field.

One of two Peregrines present today - with all the Columbidae going past it must have been being in YO! Sushi for these guys today.
I wonder if these birds are moving with them?

Few thrushes moving today, with just one Redwing and this Mistle Thrush noted overhead and a single Fieldfare in the bushes

At least one very vocal Water Pipit seen well today, on the ground and in flight

Weather: Clear skies early morning (3 oktas) becoming cloudy in the afternoon (8 oktas) with light rain, light to moderate W wind, cold.

Thrush fall and vis mig at Staines Moor

With huge numbers of Ring Ouzels moving over coastal sites in the south-east yesterday and light SE winds and showers forecast for today, I decided on a dawn to dusk session at the patch today.

Rain overnight and at dawn grounded large numbers of thrushes, and the hawthorns in the NW corner were heaving with birds first thing. Total thrush counts are a conservative 100 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 9+ Song Thrush, 4+ Blackbird, and a frustratingly brief Ring Ouzel seen in very gloomy light before flying off NE and joined in flight by a second. Possibly a third bird with heavily moulting flight feathers was also seen flying off high west from the hawthorns at the north end in a mixed thrush flock, and appeared to drop down by the old railway embankment. By late morning the weather had lifted and almost all the thrushes had departed, mainly S or SW.

Mid morning a Short-eared Owl appeared over the east side of the moor, where it was mobbed by corvids and gulls before landing in the grass. It (or perhaps another bird) then departed high to the north-east before returning, where it remained for the rest of the day, showing well occasionally, and was joined by a second bird late afternoon.

Vis mig produced 1 1st winter Little Gull high W with Black-headed Gulls (the third record for Staines Moor and a patch tick), 83 Linnet (65S, 18N), 19 Skylark (mainly SE), c4 House Martin (c3SW, 1E), 7 Barn Swallow (mainly S), 6 Common Snipe (3S, 3N), 16 Northern Lapwing (mainly NW), 24 Eurasian Wigeon W, 1 Mistle Thrush S, 2 Pied Wagtail S, 4 'alba' wagtails S/SE, 3 Chaffinch S/SW, 2 Jay NE and 5 Egyptian Goose W. Also, 2 Red Admiral S.

2-3 Water Pipit along the Colne are my first of the winter, and 2+ Grey Wagtail, another 4 Pied Wagtail, 3 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe and 1m Kingfisher were also on the Colne. The Whinchat was still present in the NW corner and 14 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, another Common Snipe, c40 Meadow Pipit (mainly east side), 3+ Common Buzzard, 1+ Sparrowhawk, 3+ Kestrel (including an immature male eating prey on the ground), 4-7 Gadwall, 12 Mallard, c82 Goldfinch (including a flock of c40 on the east side), 4 Greenfinch and 2H Cetti's Warbler (1 Butts Pond, 1 Colne) and another 8+ Skylark, 1 Common Gull and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull were also logged.

Record of one of today's Ring Ouzels

1st winter Little Gull west over Staines Moor today. This is the third site record (first autumn record), following 1 from 18-24 May 2001
and 2 dip-feeding along the Colne on 15 May 2004.

One of two, perhaps three, Short-eared Owls present today

A mini influx of Short-eared Owls into London and Surrey today, with 2 at Beddington Farmlands 1-2 at Richmond Park and singles
at Capel, Gallions Reach, Ingrebourne Valley Nature Reserve, Island Barn Reservoir (later QEII Res), Maida Vale, Queen Mary
Reservoir, Wanstead Flats, Waterworks Nature Reserve and Wimbledon Common.

Weather: Light SE wind, heavily overcast (7-8 oktas), fairly warm, light rain early morning and rain at dusk.