Wednesday 4th October, another day on call, for work. So I drove down to Keyhaven & Pennington marshes, the wryneck seen on previous days, was not found. Birds seen: Little grebe, Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Dark-bellied brent goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Kestrel, Coot, Lapwing, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Grey phalarope, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Sand martin, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Cetti's warbler, Blue tit, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling & Linnet.
I decided that the wryneck had departed, so I drove to Middlebere farm Wareham Dorset, to look for the Stilt sandpiper as this would be a new bird for my UK list. I arrived around 13:30 and walked down the track to Avocet hide. I entered the hide and joined some other birders, who put me on to the STILT SANDPIPER, I only spent around 30mins in the hide as the Stilt sandpiper moved out of sight as the tide went out. birds seen while in the hide and then on my return walk back to the car: Cormorant, Little egret, Grey heron, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Marsh harrier, Avocet, Knot, Curlew sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed gull, Swallow, Meadow pipit, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, House sparrow, Goldfinch & Linnet.
TOTAL FOR YEAR = 209
Friday 6th October, and I had a long drive up to Keighley, and at lunchtime I drove to Sunnydale reservoir, East Morton West Yorkshire, where I enjoyed a nice walk in the sun seeing: Teal, Mallard, Buzzard, Pheasant, Moorhen, Black-headed gull, Woodpigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Grey wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook & Carrion crow. After I had finished work, it was the long drive back down to Farnborough.
TOTAL FOR YEAR = 209
Monday 9th October and I had to go back up to Keighley to cover a colleague, who was again on holiday. On the previous Friday I had made a plan to visit Redcar tarn and then three small reservoirs in my lunchtime on Monday. First stop was Redcar tarn Keighley, seeing: Greylag goose, Canada goose, Mallard, Tufted duck, Goosander, Coot, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Robin, Blue tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Chaffinch with Domestic White Greylag Goose, Muscovy Duck & Domestic White Mallard.
Monday 9th October and I had to go back up to Keighley to cover a colleague, who was again on holiday. On the previous Friday I had made a plan to visit Redcar tarn and then three small reservoirs in my lunchtime on Monday. First stop was Redcar tarn Keighley, seeing: Greylag goose, Canada goose, Mallard, Tufted duck, Goosander, Coot, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Robin, Blue tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Chaffinch with Domestic White Greylag Goose, Muscovy Duck & Domestic White Mallard.
The first reservoir was Graincliffe reservoir, where I noted: Mallard, Great spotted woodpecker, Robin, Jay & Magpie.
The second Reva reservoir, where I saw: Buzzard, Kestrel, Red grouse, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Woodpigeon, Meadow pipit, Pied wagtail, Stonechat, Mistle thrush, Jay, Jackdaw & Starling.
Finally Weecher reservoir where I only saw Pied wagtail & Starling.
The second Reva reservoir, where I saw: Buzzard, Kestrel, Red grouse, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Woodpigeon, Meadow pipit, Pied wagtail, Stonechat, Mistle thrush, Jay, Jackdaw & Starling.
Finally Weecher reservoir where I only saw Pied wagtail & Starling.
TOTAL FOR YEAR = 209
Wednesday 18th October, I had a call in Leicester, and after I had completed all the work required, I jumped in the car and drove to Wales as the Common rock thrush had been reported again. I arrived at Pwll-Du Blaenavon Gwent around 15:30. As I drove up into the hills, it got foggy, but as other birders were returning to their cars, and had great views. I got into my warm waterproof clothing and teamed up another birder, who had arrived at the same time. We made our way along the track, passed the old quarries, until we saw a Wheatear, it had been reported that it was in the same location as the Common rock thrush. Finally in the gloom we found the COMMON ROCK THRUSH, and I managed some record shots of another new bird for my UK list, only other bird seen Meadow pipit.
TOTAL FOR YEAR = 210
Tuesday 31st October, and again on call, so I started the day down at Blashford lake for the Lesser scaup. I parked up in the sailing club car park, and was soon joined by another birder. I started going through the distance birds on the lake, and found the LESSER SCAUP, with a group of Tufted ducks. I looked on a map and saw that there is a footpath at the other end of the lake, so I went down the footpath and got better views of the Lesser scaup, which was a Hampshire tick for me. Other birds seen:Cormorant, Grey heron, Mute swan, Canada goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted duck, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Collared dove, Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Nuthatch, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, & House sparrow.
I then went to Black Gutter Bottom where the only birds seen were: Wren, Fieldfare, Mistle thrush, Magpie, Carrion crow & Reed bunting.
Last stop of the day was at Blackwater Arboretum, where I had and enjoyable time just sitting and watching, as the following came into view: Woodpigeon, Great spotted woodpecker, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Redwing, Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Marsh tit, Coal tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Siskin, Bullfinch & HAWFINCH.
TOTAL FOR YEAR = 212
