The following highlights from Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st October are from Paul Holt – thanks a lot, Paul!
"On our arrival day, Monday 30th, birds were on the move with our figures added to Andy Jayne's giving totals of 640 Chaffinch, 260 Redwing, 205 Fieldfare, and 9 Brambling. Ace to see 3 Firecrests and a Coal Tit feeding on the ground and tussocks in St John's Valley.
On Tuesday 31st the place was covered in Chaffinches pouring through... Continual counting all day gave a total of 4,360 going south but this is definitely an underestimate. Along with them were 40 Brambling, 183 Siskin, 2 Redpoll, 570 Starling, 200 Fieldfare, 215 Redwing, 31 Blackbird and 36 Song Thrush. There were two Hawfinch together in Millcombe and then later a single bird in St Helen's Copse. The two were associating so closely together that I think the lone bird was additional. One female Bullfinch, also in St Helens copse. The 3 Firecrest and the Coal Tit were still present. Warblers were interesting with 8 Blackcaps, 19 Goldcrests, 12 Chiffchaffs plus a very pale Siberian-type Chiffchaff with dark legs and what I presume was an acredula Willow Warbler, both of which were in Smelly Gully. A Merlin was very busy hunting along the East Side; I bet it had a belly full of finch..."
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