The Grind. Pt.2, Nuggets Of Joy

With the main rush of migration [possibly] passing, it gets to the hard end of the year.

Shorter days and colder weather compress matters too [though the reduced need to get up so early in the morning to be out at first light is nice, I must admit!]

Wintering and later-passing birds are still out there, and as one with a deranged compulsion self-inflicted torture yearlist to think of I have even more need to keep at it.

I bashed a fair bit of the more sheltered side of the Patch on Saturday, with a few parties of mobile Redwing and another nice juvenile Sprawk the [scattered] highlights.

 

Eventually I got to the Nose, where The Irregulars had turned up a Blackstart or two.

Black Redstart,

female type

Sometimes birds behave. 

Black Redstart,

adult male

Sometimes... Not so much.

Gorgeous bird, though.

Also behaving at the Nose;

Kingfisher,

male

Sandpiper,

Purple

Shaggy Parasol

Of interest, not a single waxcap of any sp. to be found. The fact that the 'trust' delayed hacking the Bracken until the 2nd week of November [and still haven't taken the grass cuttings..] may well have something to do with it. [Or, to be fair, maybe they took against the weather this Summer and aren't feeling frisky; though they are up on t'Moor, as you will see]

Let's have something from Not the Nose..

[gasp]

Longquarry Point, seen

from Babba's Combe

Grinding continued this afternoon [eventually], with a few phylloscs about - though hardly any calling let alone showing, the little scamps - and a nice party of 4 Redpoll low overhead [S] the definite best bit. Still no sign of that Eider, and General Thought is that he's done as they seem to do nowadays, and moved on. He or other[s] may re-appear next month or so...?

Gotta keep [the Nose]* at it!

Be Seeing You...

[[* Yes... Now you get it. ]]