Bird news for August 2007

August 4th

A Yellow-legged Gull with 113 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. At Tug Bridge Farm, five Turtle Doves and six Yellow Wagtails were around a recently formed flash (a result of the recent heavy rains over the last few weeks)

Much higher numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the area this morning, with a minimum count of 564 across various sites. The Yellow-legged Gull was seen again, today with a flock of 261 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in stubble fields at Church Hill.

At nearby Tug Bridge Farm, at least ten Yellow Wagtails were around the temporary flash pool, immediately adjacent to the farm this morning.

Warbler numbers are increasing at both Eakring Flash and Eakring Meadows, with numerous Willow Warblers and Whitethroats, but also a single Lesser Whitethroat at the former mentioned site.

August 9th

A Yellow-legged Gull in the area again this morning, present in fields with 341 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Church Hill and a second bird seen during the afternoon, by which time there were at least 500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Numerous Common Buzzards were around today (minimum of eight birds) suggesting that there was some local dispersal at least.

Definitely one Barn Owl was hunting along the edge of a newly harvested field adjacent to Lound Wood at 21:40h this evening, with possibly a second bird present.

August 16th

Quiet today, with little again moving through. Three Yellow Wagtails flew high over the area and there are at least ten still on the temporary flood pool at Tug Bridge Farm. Willow Warblers were at numerous sites and three Common Buzzards were over Lound Wood mid-morning, whilst the first returning Teal of the Autumn was on Penny Pasture Common, Eakring Meadows.

An interesting morning, but still generally very quiet considering the time of year, with virtually no passerine migration at all.

The best birds of the morning were a 2cy Yellow-legged Gull with 138 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in fields just east of Eakring Flash. A total of four Hobbies were over Eakring Flash early morning, with two taking turns at unsuccessfully hunting a Swift. These were then briefly joined by two more and departed extremely high to the south.

A Sedge Warbler at Eakring Flash, was one of a few warblers around the area today, with other sightings including three Common Buzzards, 70 (very mobile) Lapwing and the Teal remained at Penny Pasture Common.

A good morning, with a good selection of species in the area today. Highlight were the six Common Crossbill that flew high north (despite the strong wind) over Eakring Flash at 07:25h, before appearing to come down in Lound Wood.

Other birds in the area today included three adult Yellow-legged Gulls in fields at Church Hill, with 144 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Another 207 Lesser Black-backed Gulls had earlier been in fields at Leyfields, just east of Eakring Flash, but all of these were flushed by an adult Peregrine, which then flew off east. A Hobby flew south-west and briefly joined a record single group of 11 Common Buzzards (a total of 14 in the area today) over Red Hill, with three over Hare Hill Wood.

Nine Tree Sparrows were at Red Hill and a few Swallow were moving low north through the area, were the only other sign of visible migration.

August 25th

Less of interest this morning, although a 1st Summer Yellow-legged Gull was with around 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in fields between Eakring and Kneesall. A Tree Pipit flew south-east over Eakring Flash and a minimum of 12 Common Buzzards were over Red Hill.

An early afternoon visit to the area proved quiet. Six Common Buzzards were extremely high over Penny Pasture Common, whilst a Turtle Dove flew north-east over Eakring Flash. At Tug Bridge Farm, the flooded area which has been present since the heavy rains of June is slowly disappearing, but is still a great attraction to Pied and Yellow Wagtails. There is obviously a good turn-over of birds at this site and today this was evident when a juvenile was present and was fitted with a metal BTO ring. Unfortunately, only part of the ring number was readable when the photographs were uploaded onto computer and the only discernable numbers were 33 (possibly the second and third numbers) with the last number being 2. These numbers were in red.

August 27th

Good numbers of Yellow Wagtails at Tug Bridge Farm this morning, with a minimum count of 18 present there and three in the Red Hill area today. Common Buzzards included two in the Red Hill/Lound Wood area and an adult Hobby was at Penny Pasture Common.

August 30th

A quiet morning with little of note. There were eight Common Buzzards over Lound Wood, with another at nearby Red Hill. 113 Lapwing were at Eakring Field Farm and the first Golden Plover of the Autumn, was heard high over Eakring Flash.

Eakring Bird news
August 2007
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring