Tresp-assing!

After two rather unsatisfactory birds in flight at Steatley the other week I found a splendid Tree Sparrow this lunchtime. This one was in a game strip just north-west of Upper Caldecote.

It seems game strips are the places to look for these chaps, and late October seems to be a prime time to find them as they move around before settling down for the winter months. I've seen Tree Sparrows regularly in this one over the years, but none of them stay for very long.

FC

There was a Firecrest in there yesterday...

Finding but not ticking

Four decent birds found on the vismig morning Sunday, the one of the four I found was the one of the four that I had already found. Sad face. But always good to get an autumn Ouzel as they are at a premium, certainly compared with Spring. Smiley face again sort-of.

Lots of seagulls

...at Broom GLW, so scanned for about half an hour before this Med showed up.

Great!

Well, after adding Brambling and Steve grabbed a Jack Snipe out of mid air, we were both feeling viz mig SFYL happy. But adding a Bonxie was somewhat of a bonus for the self found challenge...and a county tick

Bramble finches

Two in clear view here from this morning's Viz Mig session at Sandy Pinnacle.

Dotting the eyes

Been grim lately but the birding has picked recently up thanks to others finds.  Did my bit to extend the purple patch today with this supercillia-ed beastie. Makes up for the Ruff I'm taking off my list from last month, as it was calling as it flew by me and better ornithologists have reminded me Ruffs don't call.  Guess I just misidentified a Pec so no great loss...

Grey Plover

Wednesday 01 October...Sandy Heath Quarry...0700hrs...Darren Oakley-Martin (soliloquy):

''Grey Plover?''

''Grey Plover!'' (this time with emphasis)

'Plover' then seen...flying off. (an adumbration only)

''Get in!''

Wednesday 01 October...Home...1900hrs...http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Pluvialis-squatarola

''This doesn't sound quite right.''

''Neither does this...''

''...or this...''

It is two years since I heard Grey Plover, and as convinced as I was that I had one before me yesterday morning, I can't say that I don't now have my doubts. The problem is though, that I don't know what else it could possibly have been. It sounded like a GV, it looked like the flight silhouette of a GV, but I can't quite assuage these doubts that it might have been something else.

Sometimes, you should go with your gut instinct. Icarus once had a gut instinct about something, but look what bloody well happened to him.

That is now three species in as many days that I have talked myself out of.

Exit stage left.

DOM