Canoeing the Wye

A two and a half hour trip down the River Wye this morning. We saw at least eight kingfishers. Each seemed to be holding a territory of about half a mile. I suspect that many of these birds were the dispersed young from this year's successful breeding. I have never seen anything like so many kingfishers in one day before today.There were also numerous swans and canada geese. Amongst the birds that flew across the river were grey wagtails and pheasants.
Saw a very large barbel being landed by an angler and another large fish leapt from the river in front of my boat.

Several bats were flying this evening both above the river and in the adjoining woodland. Their flights were witnessed with an accompanying chorus from the several tawny owls.

Why so many Fieldfares?

Up this morning to see the rising sun as the mist hung upon the North Downs. The blue skies were full of eastward bound airplanes and birds. The ubiquitous wood pigeon, and squadrons of starlings were interspersed with the usual westward daily migration of gulls AND hundreds of fieldfares. I cannot recall seeing so many of these winter migrants so early in the year. It begs the question  what weather our scandinavian neighbours are currently experiencing, or, was there a poor berry harvest in that part of the world?

Covey of Partridges

The stubble fields here around have been swamped recently by released pheasants. An early morning walk and you cannot fail to see fifty plus. Sometimes I can see more than that in just one field. So, it was a pleasant surprise this morning to see a covey of partridges feeding on one of the fields. There were about a dozen birds in close proximity, skulking their way over the stubble.
These were the french or red-legged partridge which suggests that they have been captive reared and released for the shooting fraternity. Nevertheless, they are nice birds to see.

Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler

There are still some remnants of our summer visitors and yesterday I saw two warblers, their exact identity unknown as there was no call or song to give them away. The nights are getting cooler and I doubt whether I shall see many more of these migrant birds until next spring.

Singing Skylark on stubble and Swallows at Woolmer

There are still lots of skylarks feeding amongst the stubble. This morning, the first one that could be truly considered autumnal, the sun broke through the mist and a single bird from the flock began to sing. I could see no sign of a bird hovering in the air and so can only surmise that it was singing whilst on the ground.

Yesterday, saw swallows flying around Woolmer Castle, near Deal on the south coast.

Fieldfares and Swallows Overlap

There are still a few swallows flying the skies around here, although the much cooler mornings must be a test for them Yesterday I saw a small flock of thrushes in the distance that looked like they could have been fieldfares. This morning I saw the same but also heard their distinctive calls. So, there is an overlap between the summer visitors and the over-wintering migrants.
I also saw a male blackcap this morning which could either have been a late-leaving summer resident or a visitor from northern areas.

Stubble comes alive

The farmer has not as yet reached the fields in front of the house, so they remain stubble. As Dylan (the dog) ran over the fields yesterday, he set up a host of skylarks (I estimate at least one hundred individuals). Then came a flock of around thirty linnets, a smattering of meadow pipits their distinctive piping notes giving away their presence. Later a small group of yellowhammers joined the whirling mass of birds. Only once previously have I witnessed such an accumulation of birds on the stubble. Of course, the usual wing clapping of dozens of wood pigeons and the chattering of magpies accompanied the other birds.

Skylarks feeding on caterpillars

The skylarks departed a few weeks ago from the fields around the house, however, they have returned in numbers (around 30). They are particularly flocking on a field that has been seeded with what appears to be charlock. I can't be certain as the plants have been virtually stripped of all their leaves by caterpillars. Interestingly, the farmer has had soil tests done on this land as it did not crop at all well last year, I suspect therefore that this was a green manure with nitrogen fixing properties. Whatever the case, the plants have not been sprayed with insecticide and so the caterpillars have flourished. From what I could see, the skylarks have been feasting on this late season source of food. A few meadow pipits have also appeared to take advantage.

Peak District

Three days in the Peak and not very much to report in terms of birdlife. There was a pair of goosander on Kinder Reservoir and a single red grouse to be seen on the moor. Apart from that there were numerous meadow pippits.
Most noticeable by their absence were swallows. The previous week in both the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales I had seen these birds still very much in evidence, whilst back in Kent they were still very prevalent, so it begs the question: Why no swallow in the Peak District?

Yorkshire Dales

Yorkshire Dales – Staying in the small village of Bellerby. A walk up the country lane leading from the cottage revealed a hare running across a field. Later that day, on returning, a hare ran down the lane ahead of the car. Curlews provided an evening chorus, whilst the morning flight revealed a flock of nine of these birds. Red grouse could be heard calling from the nearby moorland, and a bird was seen raising its head above the heather. Fifteen geese flew overhead.

Dippers again at Aysgarth Falls and at Malham. A charm of goldfinches were seen feeding on thistles near Kilnsley.

Lake District 2

Eskdale -  The overwhelming majority of birds of the corvid family in these parts are jackdaws. Their calls and their spiralling flight displays are all around. In the hills I have also seen ravens and crows. Early one morning I counted one side of a perfect arrow, a skein of fifty geese. They were flying too high for identification. I wonder if they are early winter arrivals.

Tarn Hows – A beautiful morning showed the small lake at its beautiful best. A very tame dipper allowed for some close-up photographs. Later as I completed the walk around the lake, a pair of goosander appeared on the water. Their russet heads very distinctive against the blue waters, they dived again and again searching for fish.