Spotflys, tripits and willwas

It’s that time of year. That time where two of the best patch sounds can be heard. The lazy, half-bothered sub-song of a Willow Warbler and the seemingly miles up shpeez of a Tree Pipit. August in a nutshell.

The last week or so has seen warbler numbers really ramp up, as they do every mid-August. The last couple of wanders down the New Barn track have yielded five species, including a good number of the aforementioned Willows, either said lazy singers or bright, lemon-yellow youngsters trying to fit in with a mixed flock. When ringing on Monday, at least five were about at Bonhurst Farm, though sadly none ended up in the nets.

Kestrel, Bonhurst Farm, 14/78/2019.

On Tuesday I had my first Tree Pipit of the year, at New Barn, which bolted over east, perhaps from neighbouring The Hurt Wood, or perhaps from Scotland, or beyond. During the last week or so I’ve been waiting for the first autumn Teal to arrive at Mill Pond – lo and behold, one was present on 10th. The Swift over Bonhurst on 8th will doubtless be the last patch bird of the year, though I’ve seen a few since, including a flock on the way up to Birdfair today.

I mentioned in a previous post that Spotted Flycatchers seemingly didn’t do well on patch this summer, but the typical mid-August appearance of the species pretty much everywhere challenges that initial opinion. The biggest group was of four, a family party, that have been hanging out at Bonhurst Farm, with the adults still feeding the youngsters.

Spotted Flycatchers, Bonhurst Farm, 14/8/2019.

I just love August. So much so that I wrote a longer piece on it, which you can read here.