Let's Twitch Again

Like We Did Last Summer

As far as the weather was concerned it was perfect for a Twitch or anything else for that matter. However, with overnight temperatures still hovering in low double figures it was though that too may have attracted a Moth or so but no such luck.

We are blessed with having all 3 of the more common Owl species (Tawny, Barn and Little) either resident or of the latter semi-resident, so no surprises then when the Twitch kicked off with the familiar hooting’s of the former, which is the usual way of things on such days.

TAWNY OWL

Rising properly at 06:00 from Song Thrush to Blackbird were either seen or heard from the doorstep before venturing to the bank of the River Stour no more than 300 yards away. The much hoped for Reed Bunting and Kingfisher were both ‘no shows’, the later remaining that way throughout but the Bunting being ‘ticked’ later at the Irrigation Pond. The Cetti's Warblers have not returned so far as we can tell.

WATER RAIL (heard only)

 COAL TIT

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER  

A Cormorant made the usual meal of getting airborne we had reached the point of Common Buzzard. Only Mallard and Goldfinch were disappointingly addition across the southern part of the RA so time to venture into Bournemouth International Airport territory which all counts. There, a number of considered new-arrival Lesser Black-backed Gulls had seemingly moved in since our last visit with the almost guaranteed Stock Doves and dozens of Rooks hitting the log almost simultaneously.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

Driving to the northern part of the property the least expected and ‘the’ bird of the day started ‘singing’ as walking the bridleway and soon showed itself as a male Blackcap. Not unusual for one or two of these Warblers to overwinter here but a bit of a task locating them. Tufted Duck numbers had for the second day running increased by one, this time a male, while the Little Grebe prove to be no problem at all so onward, at 11:00 to the Sewerage Works fence-line where expectations are always high. All species up to Chiffchaff, which have now reduced to about a dozen or so, where seen here with the Long-tailed Tits being almost in blizzard proportions.

BLACKCAP

 TUFTED DUCK

 STARLING

CHIFFCHAFF

 FIRECREST

GOLDFINCH

 GOLDCREST

 LONG-TAILED TIT

Our beat of the Moors River also came up trumps with a nice bunch of Teal along with the first Geese (Canada's) of any description for a couple of weeks now plus the only Mute Swan of the day which is unusual. Expectations from the Heath were nonexistent as it has been by and large baron of late produced just singles of Stonechat and Dartford Warbler making for ideal ‘bonus birds’. 

NUTHATCH

 GREENFINCH

 DARTFORD WARBLER

Controversial or not, the smart looking Feral Pigeon joined the list before an all too long lull, after which both Kestrel and Grey Heron were seen from the homestead. The Twitch ended on a none too shabby 53 from this relatively tiny postage stamp - if I have counted them correctly??

PS - some of the images are from our archive to spice things up a bit……..