Yesterday I reached the 64th milestone which seemed a good opportunity to see how many birds were out there to celebrate it with me. There was no chance of finding 64 species but one for each two years seemed a possibility. In the end I managed 35 and that was without a few usual suspects such as linnet and nuthatch.
The highlight was several brightly plumaged male brambling in amongst the other finches which were feeding on unharvested sunflowers. One of these flocks mainly consisted of over a hundred goldfinches which made a bright spectacle in the sunlight. Another gave a tantalisingly brief view of a tree sparrow--my first this year.
Five mistle thrushes--possibly migrating birds were feeding near Ventouse and a troupe of rooks were in a field near Artenac. This species is highly localised in these parts but the available food after the harvest is probably encouraging some wandering. For the same reason, woodpigeons and collared doves were plentiful, one flock of the latter contained about 100.
The temperature is forecast to plummet over the next 24 hours as cold air comes in from the north and this should produce flocks of lapwings and perhaps cranes migrating south
Belated Happy Birthday.
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