Autumn migrants on the move !

A quick evenings walk around the patch down bu the river proved extremely productive with good numbers of warblers which was very unexpected. At least 8 Sedge Warbler in the rushes & maize field by the river ( 7 juveniles & 1 Ad), 6 Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler in the willows. 6 Blackcap, 5 Garden Warbler and 7 Whitethroat approx counts moving through the bramble hedge.
No sign of any Reed Warbler or Grasshopper Warblers yet.

Looking back at last years Sedge Warbler records:

First Sedge Warblers of the Autumn 28th/July/2015 with 3 birds (juv's) at same locations.
1 on the 29th/July/2015
8 on the 31st/July/2015
8 on the 4th/ Aug/2015
5 on the 5th/Aug/2015
1 on the 6th/ Aug/2015
5 on the 8th/Aug/2015
1 on the 10th/Aug/2015
50+ on the 11th/Aug/2015- Huge fall!!!
6 on the 19th/Aug/2015
8 on the 20th/Aug/2015
6 on the 28th/Aug/2015
Singles on the 30th Aug, 2nd Sept, 23rd & 25th Sept 2015

First "Autumn" Sedge of 2016 with five juveniles on 27th July 2016- 2 day's earlier than last year.


Reed Warbler records from last year:
First birds of the Autumn 11on the 4th/Aug/2015
12 on the 5th/Aug/2015
2 on the 6th/Aug/2015
6 on the 8th/Aug/2015
2 on the 19th Aug and 2 on 23rd Sept

Already this year birds moving through early with first "Autumn" record on 14th July with 1 bird present. Three on the 16th July 2016-Juvenile birds down by river. Three weeks early!!! Early movement of migrants and failed breeders from Somerset Levels??!!

Blackcap 2015 records:
First "Autumn" Blackcap on 2015 with 6 on the 28th July 2015

Following records below of Blackcap numbers recorded on Patch between 28th July -31st Oct 2015 showing fluctuations in numbers and influxes of birds. Counts taken nearly ever 2nd-3rd day.

29/07/2015	2
29/07/2015	1
04/08/2015	6
06/08/2015	1
07/08/2015	9
11/08/2015	2
11/08/2015	2
15/08/2015	13
16/08/2015	5
19/08/2015	1
28/08/2015	1
01/09/2015	10
02/09/2015	5
08/09/2015	30
11/09/2015	8
16/09/2015	1
21/09/2015	1
23/09/2015	50
25/09/2015	25
28/09/2015	15
01/10/2015	25
07/10/2015	1
28/10/2015	1

Autumn Blackcap for 2016 with singles recorded on 1st, 5th and 16th July. 3 on the 14th July 2016 and now 6 recorded today on 29th July 2016. Peak movement usually last week of Sept, 1st week of October moving through the elder/blackberry bushes.

Garden Warbler Autumn 2015 records:

05/08/2015	1
06/08/2015	4
07/08/2015	3
11/08/2015	1
17/08/2015	2
18/08/2015	6
28/08/2015	5
29/08/2015	9
30/08/2015	2
11/09/2015	2
12/09/2015	7
14/09/2015	5
17/09/2015	8

First "Autumn" Garden Warbler seen last year on 5th August 2015 and this year 1st Autumn birds (4) recorded on 1st July 2016. Singles seen throughout July. Notable counts of 2 on 14th July and 16th July 2016. Another early movement of the species but not in big numbers, most likely locally breeding birds.

Grasshopper Warbler Autumn 2015 records: Scarce on patch

04/08/2015	2
05/08/2015	2
06/08/2015	2
07/08/2015	1
11/08/2015	5
19/08/2015	1
28/08/2015	1
08/09/2015	1
23/09/2015	3
25/09/2015	1
01/10/2015	1

First "Autumn" Gropper (fresh juvenile) seen on 14th July 2016 moving through long grass vegetation at Sewage works early morning. Highest count of five birds on 11th August 2015. 2014 records showing average count of 3 birds during mid August.

Whitethroat Autumn 2015 records:

28/07/2015	1
05/08/2015	4
07/08/2015	1
10/08/2015	1
11/08/2015	1
14/11/2015	2
16/08/2015	2
19/08/2015	2
28/08/2015	1
02/09/2015	5
08/09/2015	6
21/09/2015	7
23/09/2015	1
24/09/2015	1
25/09/2015	1
01/10/2015	1

2016 Autumn Whitethroat records so far this season

01/07/2016	2
14/07/2016	5
16/07/2016	6
29/07/2016	7

Mostly local breeding birds but several juveniles and moulting adults seen lately on patch. Peak movements usually 1st week of September


Lesser Whitethroat Autumn 2015 records: Mostly Autumn migrant, 1st every spring records this year!!!

28/07/2015	3
29/07/2015	1
05/08/2015	2
06/08/2015	1
07/08/2015	1
11/08/2015	1
17/08/2015	1
19/08/2015	1
28/08/2015	5
01/09/2015	6
23/09/2015	2
24/09/2015	1
25/09/2015	1
25/09/2015	1
28/09/2015	1
01/10/2015	1

Few records missing above. Singles on 26th and 27th July 2015.
Peak count on 1st Sept 2015, highest site count.
First "Autumn" bird of 2016 seen on 27th July. Numbers mostly single birds through August with numbers peaking in September alongside Common Whitethroat.