Sunday November 26

Morton Bagot demonstrated a bit of bounce-backability after the desperately dull visit on Thursday.

It was another sunny morning, but crucially the wind had dropped to nothing. Initially it seemed as though it was going to be a bit quiet again, but the immature Peregrine did its best to entertain.

Peregrine

The chat field contained quite a few Linnets and a few Chaffinches and Goldfinches. There was also a reasonable number of Redwings and Fieldfare. Some of the Linnets perched in a sapling reminding me of baubles on a christmas tree.

Linnets

Heavy frost along the bridleway hinted that all the pools would be frozen. We had a brief view of a female Stonechat on our way to the flash field.

The frozen bridleway

This was indeed the case, and we counted just three Teal, three Mallard, and a female Wigeon. Things picked up dramatically on the return journey. We had reached what we laughingly call the migration watchpoint, a higher piece of ground next the Stapenhill Wood. We generally pause to scan around, but it rarely favours us with any bird migration. Today, however, I spotted a Hawfinch flying in from the east. Better still, it suddenly lost height and landed in trees, close enough for a record shot.

Adult male Hawfinch

Unlike the birds I have been seeing in Redditch this autumn, it was an adult male. I got three shots away before it took off, but only appeared to drop into the wood. Dave went to investigate, while I remained on the rise. After a fruitless 15 minutes Dave returned, but shortly afterwards he saw it fly out of the wood and away towards the flash field. I got onto it, and we watched it swing round and start to return. It also lost height, and we were soon unable to see it.

We had to leave, but I suspect it was still in the vicinity. I'm so pleased that I have managed to get a record shot of this species at Morton Bagot.

No doubt the next challenge will be to add it to the 2018 year list.