Tawny Owl heard from Petrol station

On Thursday 29th September, whilst filling up the car with petrol, I heard a Tawny Owl hooting just south of the station at 8.45pm this evening. Looking forward to a better October, this September has been the my worst ever for birds (Osprey excepted). Didn't even see Redstart or Pied Fly this month or this year for that matter! Best seabird I saw all month was Guillemot and Gannet. I have been out and about but just not seeing anything! Friday 30th September after work, a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the bare trees just before the sewage works seen briefly before it flew off. Despite Rat hotel being bulldozed over there were still around 8, 2 with really big individuals with bodies around a foot long. The rats were more spread out that earlier with several on bushes, I wonder if the holiday park residents next door there know they are living next door to such a large rat colony?

Chiff- Chaff & Crickets in the garden

With so little on patch this autumn, it was really nice on Sunday 25th September, to watch a Chiff- Chaff hanging around in the garden for several hours and coming down to the fish pond for both a drink and a bathe. In the evening 7 House Martins flew around and circled overhead plus 15 Linnets flew west. On Monday September 26th evening up to what I think are 3 Roesel's Bush Crickets heard, including one seen, too.

2 Darters

In the garden today Saturday 24th September 2 Common Darters both male, one on the washing line and very wary one on the lawn at the back quickly flew when I approached!

Little about!

On Thursday 22nd September, 3 House Martin over the front garden in the early evening. Friday Had a look around Corton MOD track (1 Darter seen in flight), and Corton OSW. Nothing seen save for 30 Rats on the mound at the latter and Green Woodpecker heard.

Little on patch

Woke up with a thumping headache, but eventually out in the field by mid afternoon, I checked the patch for yesterday's migrants but they'd all gone save for 1 Wheatear seen at the net posts. It was using the posts to hunt for food, making frequent forays to fly down and catch and devour some unfortunate insect. At Ness Point, I could see a Guillemot on the water close by between the 1st and 2nd groins immediately north of Ness Point. I walked along the wall and managed to get some shots, as it swam steadily north. It was always within a metre or two of the end of the wreck of the old sea wall, now completely uncovered exposed at this very low ebbtide. Ringing Andrew E, he joined me and spotted 10 Brent Geese flying north in a linear line, low over the sea. At 6.40pm, receiving Rob's tweet, I jumped into the car and parked at nearby Baker's score (the scene of so many a frustrating autumnal seawatch, where often I never see anything; but this all changes in winter, where I usually do much better with the passing seabirds!) I walked down the hedgerow running south of the Corton allotments and clearly heard the sharp "tseoopp" call of the Yellow- browed Warbler from within the vicinity of the Vicarage garden, alas no further sign of it, on further investigation though.

Early dawn Dunlin

An early start round the patch today, Corton OSW, Netposts and Ness point bushes plus the Parks all were devoid of migrants but an adult Dunlin moulting into winter plumage was reasonably confiding as it fed with 5 Turnstone along the northern walkway at Ness Point, which I photo's after seeing Maurice B. 30 Gannets seen in total flying past and out out to sea off Ness Point (a good swatch for me as I usually seeing nothing). I had family commitments for the rest of the day and was too early for the migrants that frustratingly, for me, arrived at all these localities in the afternoon (and were gone the next day!).

Hard work at Corton

Before work at Corton OSW on Thursday 15th September, the ringers had beaten me to it and were within the SW compound, 15 Meadow Pipits flew from the compound east and into the field, one was caught in the mist net and Derek was quickly on the scene to process it. Nothing at Radar Lodge track first thing. After work I tried Radar Lodge track again nothing for me, at Corton OSW the mound just south of the OSw was crawling with rats I counted at least 20! Meanwhile, a Whinchat was perched on the wire fence.