Local Autumn

Several visits locally during the last week of October gave typical autumnal birding fare. Passage birds at Blakehill included Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and arriving autumnal Thrushes, in the form of flighty Fieldfares and Redwings, with Stonechats taking up residence for the winter. At Shorncote, numbers of dabbling ducks slowly increasing, and Water Rails arriving, more heard than seen. Stonechats passing through Shorncote as well with 6 seen on 28th, and Grey Wagtails feeding along the stream. Goldcrests also moving through. Marsh Harriers regular at Twitcher's Gate with a female on 30th, hopefully at least one will overwinter.