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Judith's Page

Last Updated : 6th November 2023

Birds and other wildlife recorded in October 2023

Several people have seen Red Kites over the woods – what an uplifting sight they are, apparently effortlessly gliding overhead.  Buzzard has also been seen, occasionally “mewing” as it flies. Woodpigeons are fairly common – and our UK residents may be joined by tens of thousands of others migrating southwest to our warmer areas. No Stock Doves recorded; they are easy to miss or confuse with the Woodpigeons.  A Great-spotted Woodpecker was recorded but no Greens. Our common corvids were regulars: Magpie, Jay (many on the 21st), Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow - one day the Ravens will decide to take up residence here!

In contrasting size to most of the above, there have been several sightings of Goldcrest, often in larches and conifers, but hard to hear as the human hearing system deteriorates!  Blue and Great Tits were regularly heard, as were Long-tailed Tits, now all beginning to gather in winter flocks – but no Coal Tits recorded. Chiffchaffs are still calling and may well remain in the colder months ahead.

Treecreeper and Wren have been recorded, as have Blackbird and Song Thrush, and Redwings on the 16th. Now is the time to start looking out for these winter thrushes: Redwings and Fieldfares. There will also be many Scandinavian Blackbirds arriving too. Robins and Dunnocks were fairly frequently recorded, and several House Sparrows were found near the Knaves Hill entrance at the end of the month; look for them near housing, not in the middle of the wood!  The only finch recorded this month was Chaffinch.


One not so welcome bird was a Rose-ringed Parakeet on the 16th. There are some notable omissions, Stock Dove, Green Woodpeckers, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Bullfinch and Goldfinch.  Look out for these as well as the Scandinavian thrushes, Brambling and Siskin!

 

Other non-bird sightings include a Hornet nest and several Red Admirals.  Mammal records were Grey Squirrel and a deceased Vole.

 

Our weather recorder says this is the 3rd wettest October in 12 years of recording, with 108mm of rain, compared with an average of 71.7mm.  No wonder we have a good supply of mud!

 

Thanks to everyone who sends in records – keep going!


Find out what has been spotted so far this year (2023) - click here
To see what was spotted in 2022 - click here
 To see what was spotted in 2021 - click here
 To see what was spotted in 2020 - click here

or to see lists of previous sightings (2010 to 2019) - click here

 

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