Bird News: September 2024

On the 2nd, two Hobbies were perched on a T-pylon visible from Lampley Road, Kingston Seymour before flying off towards Kenn and there was a repeat performance two days later with a flock of a dozen Mistle Thrushes also present on that occasion. The unsettled weather on the 5th saw big movements of Swallows on the estuary (2,600 past Aust) and much smaller groups locally. Three Wheatears were lingering by the Little River.

On the 7th, the Wheatear count had risen to seven, the two Hobbies (presumed adult and juvenile) were still active with Kestrel and Buzzard nearby for good measure. The Hobbies were still present on the cables on the 12th with two Mistle Thrushes. The next day a Willow Warbler was on the Strawberry Line, Yatton and a Whinchat on Congresbury Moor. Later in lovely sunny weather an Osprey soared over Kingston Seymour with two accompanying Buzzards all behind a Hobby on the cables.

A Kingfisher by the Little River was the first seen for several months. Another Kingfisher with a Grey Wagtail was at Crossman’s Pond and on the 19th two Hobbies were still present and calling occasionally viewed from Lampley Road, Kingston Seymour. A Sparrowhawk there brought the raptor count there to five species in seven days. Meadow Pipits were seen on Congresbury Moor and a flock of 70 Linnets and a pair of Stonechats were by a cut maize field at Wemberham.

Cadbury Hill held Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Marsh Tit as well as the regular commoner species. Just one Hobby was seen by Lampley Road on the 24th but there were 11 Mistle Thrushes on the cables A couple of days later the last Hobby seemed to have departed on its migration. Emily had a visit from a Redstart in her garden and a short video from her trail camera is attached. On the last day of the month, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and a probable Redwing passed over the Little River area calling along with 26 House Martins and a few Swallows.

Your reports and pictures are always very welcome at birds@yacwag.org.uk

Trevor Riddle