Robins were in fine voice on the morning of the 3rd. I went to Phipps Bridge, Wemberham and gave up counting at 20. October is Skylark migration month and there were 13 including a party of eight together. Star bird was a Jack Snipe which flushed silently at close range by the Little River.
Whilst replacing the wooden owl boxes on Congresbury Moor a Barn Owl flew from an adjacent field. Several Cetti’s Warblers were singing, a pair of Stonechats were on New Croft and three late House Martins flew over.
The big fields at Wemberham turned up four Lapwings on the 10th, they are a notable species now. 20 early Redwings flew south with Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails also on passage. There were 27 Mute Swans on the river with five Green Sandpipers, two Little Grebes and the regular Grey Wagtail at the sluice.
A Wheatear was at Chestnut Park, Yatton, close to Wheatear Road on the 12th. Skylark migration picked up mid month and I counted 24 ( and probably missed just as many) over Wemberham two days later. A flock of 20 Stock Doves there suggested that they were also on the move.
October occasionally sees large movements of Redwings and on the 19th an incredible 8,000 flew over Poets Walk, Clevedon with 400 Fieldfares. I managed to see 150+ Redwings at Wemberham. It is thought that these winter thrushes have been displaced by unusual weather patterns.
Barn Owl Road in Yatton has produced a Barn Owl previously but this month a Tawny Owl was calling there with a Firecrest in my correspondents garden. And as if that wasn’t enough there were two Black Redstarts on the roofs there on the 29th. There was a report of a Little Owl near the Strawberry Line at Congresbury where Redwings were feeding on berries and Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were present.
I am delighted to report that the second brood of Barn Owls on Congresbury Moor all fledged successfully, that’s seven in two broods this year and 92 since 2004 when the first nesting on Ten Acres occurred. There had been no Barn Owls around Yatton for at least 20 years and probably much longer before that.
The 30th was a fine Autumn day and along the Congresbury Moor section of the Strawberry Line a Water Rail was squealing, two Chiffchaffs were singing and a couple of Cetti’s Warblers were also singing to defend their winter territories.
Your sightings are always very welcome. Please send them to [email protected]
