Monday 30 July 2012

Lutley Wedge 30/07/12 (11°c) Cloudy. Wind (WSW) F2

Swifts were on the move this morning heading SW➝WSW into the wind, including several larger flocks of (50+) and (30+) 
245 Swift ➝WSW (in 3 hrs)
1 alba Wagtail ➝SW
1 Willow Warbler 
22 House Martin
2 Whitethroat
1 Swallow
1 Grey Heron ➝NNW
 Willow Warbler and Swift 30/7/12

Thursday 26 July 2012

Lutley Wedge 26/07/12 (15°c) Warm, sunny, clear skies. (E/NE) Breeze

1 Hobby  
70+ Swift
17 House Martin
7 Swallow
4 Whitethroat
12 Black-headed Gull➝W
House Martin 26/7/12

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Lutley Wedge 25/07/12 (17°c - 27°c) Hot & sunny, clear skies. Clouding over from NW. Wind (NW➝N) F1/2

There were small signs that return migration is finally getting going, with the first ♂ Whinchat and Willow Warbler on the patch this autumn. A Hobby was seen, hunting birds around Grange Farm again.
1 ♂ Whinchat
1 Hobby
1 Willow Warbler
120+ Swifts 
30 House Martin
(Tail-less!) ♂ Whinchat 25/7/12
Todays Whinchat was in advanced moult and had lost/moulted all it's tail feathers, with the new tail feathers just beginning to show underneath the uppertail-coverts. It had also moulted some wing feathers, with the first pair of fresh replacement inner tertials showing. Adult Whinchat undergo a complete post breeding moult in late summer (late July onwards) which is usually completed in September, before southbound migration starts. 
Willow Warbler 25/7/12
The first returning Willow Warbler this autumn spent most of it's time chasing off the c30 House Martins that were gathering on the power lines! 
Hobby 25/7/12

Saturday 21 July 2012

Lutley Wedge 21/07/12 Warm, sunny spells and scattered cloud.

Hobby 
100+ Swift
3 Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
1 Cormorant ➝E
Hobby and Swift Lutley Wedge 21/7/12

Friday 20 July 2012

Lutley Wedge 20/07/12 Warm, overcast. Breezy W

(60+) Swifts over Grange Farm also (20+) House Martin and (12) Swallow.
Swift 'trawling for aerial plankton' Lutley Wedge 20/7/12

Tuesday 17 July 2012

Lutley Wedge 17/07/12 Warm and overcast. Drizzle clearing to sunny spells/broken cloud. Wind SW


A Hobby flew over at Grange Farm before heading off high ➝ S/SW.
Also seen :-
15+ Swift
4 House Martin
3 Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
Hobby 17/7/12 Lutley Wedge