Eakr
ing Bird news
October 2009
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring
 
October 2nd
Little visible migration this morning, but a Shoveler was the first at Eakring Flash since 2005 and a very welcome record.
     
October 8th
Quiet during a short afternoon visit to the area. Two Common Snipe and a Green Sandpiper were at Penny Pasture Common and single Common Buzzards were at Tug Bridge Farm and Eakring Flash.
     
October 10th
Some signs of an overnight movement across the North Sea this morning, despite a frontal system moving east away from the UK, with 205 Starling and 112 Redwing west. There were very few other migrants through, but four late Swallow were over Lound Wood, then moved south and 18 Chaffinch filtered through west.

The morning's highlight concerned a welcome wildfowl record and a year tick in the form of two Wigeon on Eakring Flash, till they flew off south.

Two Common Snipe also flew west, in addition to the five that were on the small pool at Penny Pasture Common, where the Green Sandpiper was again present briefly.

 
     
October 11th
A decent morning for visible migration early on. Although most species' counts were relatively low, there was a good range of species' recorded. Best of the counts were 276 Redwing and 97 Starling south-west, with all groups being low due to the increasingly breezy conditions. The first four Brambling of the Autumn included singles west and north-west, 48 Linnet flew south and south-east and eight Siskin went through in several directions but mostly south. Yellowhammer were also noted, with birds arriving from the north-east, before continuing south-west, but at least one bird moved straight through with Redwings. The largest group of Yellowhammer was a record single group count of ten moving south. A male White Wagtail was in fields briefly opposite Eakring Field Farm and a single Swallow went south over Eakring Flash..

The morning was also notable for the first influx of 32 Herring and ten Great Black-backed Gulls south-west, and there were 180 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in various fields early morning. A female Peregrine was seen over Hare Hill Wood and there were at least three Common Buzzards in the area. Six Common Snipe were at Penny Pasture Common.

     
October 15th
Another good morning of visible migration through the area this morning, despite the heavily overcast skies and occasional light rain.

Clearly, there was a significant finch movement through Eakring, with Chaffinches moving both south and west, although westerly moving birds did include flocks of 28 and ten, out of the morning's total of 70 west and south. A single Siskin flock south-east totalled 23 birds, whilst other moving species were 262 Redwing south-west and 455 Starling west.

Four Common Snipe (three and a single) flew south-west and two Golden Plover went south-east. The Green Sandpiper was again at Penny Pasture Common, where there were slightly increased numbers of Blackbirds, including a striking pale brown coloured bird.

 
     
October 17th
The morning was completely about visible migration, with good numbers of birds moving through from soon after 07:15h. Highest counts were 937 Starling, 809 Fieldfare and 198 Redwing west. Finches again going through with 72 Chaffinch west and north-west and 19 Siskin mostly south and west. Two Lesser Redpoll were at Eakring Flash briefly till also moving west, with 31 Sky Lark south-west. Three Bullfinch dropped into Eakring Flash after coming in from high west, but there was surprisingly very little in the hedges and bushes today.
     
October 18th
Although the morning felt far less busy than yesterday, there were actually more birds. Best of the species counts today were 2 032 Starling, 99 Fieldfare and 93 Chaffinch west. A single Brambling also went west as did the area's fifth record of Rock Pipit at 09:30h and continuing the run of October Rock Pipit records. Other counts included 44 Herring Gull, but just 13 Great Black-backed Gull south and south-west, 11 Golden Plover flew east and 65 flew over Red Hill. 16 Grey Partridge were at Eakring Flash. The Water Rail was again heard at Eakring Flash.
     
October 22nd
Some visible migration this morning, with 515 Starling through west, but just 13 Redwing south-west. An obvious increase in Blackbirds at most sites where there is Elder and a Brambling was at Penny Pasture Common. The Water Rail was still calling occasionally from the southern-end of Eakring Flash and good numbers of Black-headed Gull also there, with four Common Gull. Seven Common Buzzards also in the Eakring Flash and Lound Wood area this afternoon.
     
October 24th
Virtually nothing moving through the area this morning, but the Green Sandpiper was again back at Penny Pasture Common and now two Water Rail calling from Eakring Flash. A small influx of wildfowl with seven Teal and 20 Mallard at Eakring Flash.
     
October 25th
Some limited movement through the area this morning, despite the breezy conditions. There were no counts of any real note, but best of those moving were Chaffinch and Greenfinch (neither count over 30) small numbers of Pied Wagtail south and a single Brambling west. The only thrushes noted, were 13 Redwing south and 15 Fieldfare west. A juvenile Peregrine was over Lound Wood for a short while, before heading off west over Red Hill.
     
October 29th
Migration totals through the area this morning included 1 011 Starling west and 837 Wood Pigeon south-west. Finches were on the move again, with most going south today and the best of the counts being 63 Chaffinch, 22 Siskin, nine Bullfinch and a single Brambling.

The Green Sandpiper was again at Penny Pasture Common, still one Water Rail at Eakring Flash, but bird of the morning, was the female Hen Harrier which went south-west over Lound Wood and Red Hill at 10:30h, dropping in height as it flew through.

A return visit during the late afternoon, saw little else moving through, but a juvenile female Peregrine flew east over Eakring Flash, whilst a female Stonechat there, was must have arrived after this morning's visit. On Eakring Flash itself, 32 Mallard was the highest count for several years, with 10 Teal also there.

 
     
October 31st
A mid-morning visit to the area produced some migration after the low cloud lifted. Starlings were the best of the movers with 544 west, whilst the highlight was two Common Crossbill north-west. Other counts included 35 Sky Lark south and south-east, 54 Fieldfare west and south, ten Lesser Redpoll south and two Jay through.

There were good numbers of Black-headed Gull in the area today and possibly some westerly movement. A count of 142 all eventually went west, along with six Common Gull. Lapwing were also moving, and although only 31 went south-west, at least 120 were in fields around Eakring Field Farm/Eakring Meadows. The Water Rail was still at Eakring Flash and a male Peregrine was over Lound Wood. A flock of 21 Long-tailed Tit at Eakring Flash, was the biggest single flock for many years here.

 
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