September 30th 2011

After a lazy day rotting in the sunshine yesterday this morning found me sitting above the quarry at Napton on the Hill observing the gas clouds of Orion and enjoying a crystal clear night sky waiting for a double pass of the Space Station. The first pass because of the earths shadow appeared out of the dark almost over head before disappearing east while the second was more impressive because she passed just after dawn with Jupiter in the same field of view briefly. While all this was going on both Tawny and Little Owl were heard calling along with a Fox.
Unfortunately the high pressure system in place over the country means the majority of the migrants inland are pushing straight over high so apart from fly over’s there were not many refueling on the hill. Fly over’s in an hour were my first Brambling of the autumn, Redpoll and 2 Siskin along with a trickle of Swallows and Meadow Pipits. The churchyard had 6 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap feeding on the Elderberry while 5 Raven’s croaked over head. Other species included 2 Buzzard, Nuthatch, 3 Coal Tit, 3 Wren and Tree Sparrow.
After meeting up with up with Dave and brunch in the Just So then a look around the Bridge Nursery Garden produced 10 Linnet and a Small Copper before returning to the hill. The very warm conditions on Napton on the Hill brought out the butterflies with 12 Red Admiral, 2 Large White, Small Copper and a Comma but birding was quiet with 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Buzzard and a Raven only.

Richard