Monday 30th September

The very rainy conditions over the last few days have meant that there are some embryonic floods in place and with more rain forecast for the coming week I am hoping that they'll grow in size. So far there's not been much bird life attracted to them though a few Black-headed Gulls are starting to congregate by them. There are plenty of Pied Wagtails but just one YELLOW WAGTAIL hanging on, though now the cattle have been rounded up it may be the last of the season. There are about 9 or so Lapwing to be found each day on the Meadow now and Meadow Pipit numbers have grown noticeably with at least 60 hanging out in a rather large flock at the southern end of the Meadow. Thomas Miller reported 15 or so Golden Plover recently one evening, the first of the autumn.  I've been tramping around across the Meadow area most days to see if I can kick up something of interest but apart from a couple of Skylarks and loads of Meadow Pipits that's been about it.

I had rather assumed that the rainy conditions might have finished off any remaining Odonata but when the sun has been out I've still been seeing a few Migrant Hawkers buzzing about both in the Trap Grounds and along the Castle Mill Stream. With more rain forecast sadly they'll probably not be around much longer.

Without much in the way of flood waters yet, the main excitement on the birding front is looking out for the mixed roving tit flocks that are often to be found working their way along the many hedgerows in Burgess Field and in the Trap Grounds. These areas can seem completely devoid of bird life until you come across one of these flocks and suddenly there are birds everywhere! There are nearly always Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits in these flocks but you can often find a Treecreeper, Chiffchaff or Goldcrest tagging along with them and there's always the chance of something even more interesting turning up, you never know.

Without much in the way of photographic offerings at the moment I'm giving you a Kingfisher that I came across in the Trap Grounds. The new Trap Grounds blog is going strong so do go and check it out for more updates from this lovely gem of a nature haven