Hobby

The long hot summer has now become a very mild autumn and a consequence of this appears to be the late migration of some of our summer visitors. I have see several warblers (chiffchaff or willow warbler) over the last week, but most unusually, I saw a hobby over the fields.
I imagine that the hobbies had a very successful breeding season as there were so many dragon flies around this year, but I would not expect to see one in mid October.
The linnets have just returned to the stubble fields they occupied throughout last winter. At the moment the flock amounts to about thirty individuals, but I would expect that number to rise over the coming weeks. There are still some skylarks on the fields, though no song.

Belek, Turkey

Th most common bird to be seen by far has been the spectacled bulbul which can be seen and heard all around the hotel grounds. The only other birds to be seen around the hotel are sparrows and hooded crows. Down by the beach on a strip of turf were three hoopoes, very obliging allowing me to get quite lose to them.
Otherwise, there are dabchick of some sort on the ponds along with moorhen with very red skin areas on the head. Also, some unidentifiable flycatchers and woodpeckers.
A group of about thirty swallows were to be seen flying south clearly on migration.

The lovely little red squirrels seem to be doing well.

Albino Crow

A pure white (with pink eyes) crow is resident on the banks of the River Wye at Symonds Yat West. It is quite tame and can easily be viewed without binoculars. Quite a sight!

Hen Harrier

Saw my first hen harrier yesterday. Flying low over the heathland of the Black Mountains in Wales. A greyish white bird (male) with black wing tips flying low quartering the ground probably trying to flush one of the many meadow pipits still around.
Some skylarks still on the tops, also saw a snipe, lots of ravens, and a family of kestrels.

Glen Affric

Staying in a house at the end of Glen Affric in the Highlands. The birds on the feeder in the garden make for interesting viewing, with the majority being siskins. The commonest bird song to be heard is that of the willow warbler, whilst a pair of spotted flycatchers have three youngsters in a nest amongst the roses climbing up the end wall.

Pied wagtails are very abundant hereabouts, whilst hooded crows inhabit the fields. A pair of hares come down from the mountain each evening to feed on the valley bottom pasture lands.

A walk through the glen revealed common sandpipers and dippers on the river whilst a cock redpoll resplendent in scarlet head and breast made an impressive spectacle.

A small pool beside the river was full of tadpoles whilst a small newt was also in evidence. Perhaps it is not surprising that they are around so late in the season as fresh snow can be seen on the tops.

Red squirrels and pine martens have so far proven to be too elusive.

Swifts at last!

Much later than their usual date of arrival, I saw four swifts flying around the village church today. They are so late that I had come to the sad conclusion that they would not be returning this year. Swallows have been here for some time and not far away I have seen numerous house martins.
There do appear to be fewer hedgerow birds around such as yellow hammers and whitethroats. Otherwise, there has been plenty of evidence of breeding birds and yesterday I saw a group of young goldfinches in a low tree.

Nesting Pheasant

A pheasant has chosen our front driveway to lay her clutch of eggs (eight so far). The driveway was plain chippings until I built a couple of raised beds from ex rail sleepers. Planted with lavender along the front edge, one of these planters is now home to the pheasant. I have yet to see her enter the nest so am not sure of the direction of approach but she is only a few yards from the lane and even less distant from the house.