The highlight of the morning was the first Reed Bunting of the autumn calling around Owl Meadow. A flock of six Cormorants made tracks south and a Yellow Wagtail zipped overhead. Light Meadow Pipit passage at the farm reached around 40 birds. More noticable was Pied Wagtail movement, with five over the farm. Three Wheatears were around Owl Meadow, five Stonechats were seen around Tart's Field, three Skylarks flying around Reads Rest seemed to be newly arrived and Linnets numbered around 200. Raptors at CF were represented by a Red Kite, a Hobby, 10 Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and two Kestrels. Two Canada Geese and a drake Mallard flew over the sector. Migrant warblers at the farm comprised a Willow Warbler, six Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. Work in Broadfield continued but only attracted two adult Common Gulls, four adult Black-headed Gulls and a Rook of note; a further 11 Black-headeds flew over. A Little Owl was calling on the east side of Horse Pasture, a Greenfinch flew over and three Yellowhammers were logged. After yesterday's frenzy, only 16 Swallows were noted at the farm, with a further eight over BW, which did log 100 House Martins, normally a reasonable count!
Butterflies at CF included six Red Admirals, three Speckled Woods, 12 Meadow Browns, a Comma, three Large Whites and a Small White. Odonata there were represented by two Common Darters and two Migrant Hawkers. In BW, a Comma, a Red Admiral, a Small White and a Southern Hawker were seen.
Geoff Barter, David Campbell, Duncan Jennings, Paul Mattos and WoodChips Conservation Volunteers
