Tuesday 13th October

I've not cycled into work for about a week now and also being missing out lunchtime wanderings - but today was too nice not to get out. I had 40 minutes and decided to visit Ditton Quarry to see if I couldn't find some butterflies enjoying the unexpected warmth. Thirty minutes later I had no butterflies and only 7 bird species! Turning to leave I caught a glimpse of an all dark, slender bird in the shadows of an elderflower bush. At the same time I noticed a dog walker walking directly towards it! The bird was flushed onto a dog rose and I caught site of it's flame-red tail in the bright sunshine - Black Redstart. I managed a poor record shot before it flew off into the surronding scrub. I had only 10 minutes before I had to get back to work and managed to get a few more glimpses of the bird as it worked it's way around the shrubs, but it was very restless and was too distant and mobile to get any better photos. As I left a single Large White flew by - the only butterfly seen.

Returning to the Quarry after work I was unable to reloacte the Black Redstart, but managed to bring the species total for the day up to 25! This included 3x Redwings over towards the research station orchards - my first this winter.

Quarry list:

Robin
Black Redstart
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Wren
Goldcrest
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Redwing (over)
Jay
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Grey Heron (over)
Sparrowhawk
Black-headed Gull (over)