Blogtober Twenty Four

A late start this morning, the sun was already well above the horizon when I finally stirred. It is Saturday, I guess, but it meant that I missed an opportunity to photograph dawn. As soon as I had fed Mocha, I put an apple out for the thrushes and a couple of Blackbirds immediately materialised out of nowhere.

Photo: M Taylor

Indeed, there were a few more species around than usual. A pair of Dunnocks hopped along the garden wall and into the undergrowth, the local House Sparrow flock put in an appearance (perhaps someone's feeders hadn't been filled) and a Collared Dove investigated what the Blackbirds were up to. Brief sightings of a Robin, a Wren and a pair of Pied Wagtails were then overshadowed by the first appearance this Autumn of a Blackcap. It was a male, with the eponymous headgear, and Megan immediately sliced up another apple in the hope of tempting it down onto the ground to feed. Alas, it seemed content to search the few remaining Sycamore leaves for insects rather than entertain something a little more fruitful. Undeterred, seven Blackbirds now fought over the apples, with the local male now losing out to half a dozen Scandinavians.

Blackcap. Photo: M Taylor

By lunchtime, the wind had begun to pick up, with forecasts indicating a temporary peak of 50+mph in the late afternoon, before a bit if a lull (30+mph) and then the main event (70+mph) through Sunday. As we monitored the front garden and the field over the track for thrushes, optics began to pile up on the kitchen counter.

This arsenal of lenses eventually paid dividends when, in amongst another 11 Blackbirds, I finally spotted a Song Thrush. In other parts of the archipelago, keen birders have managed to scan hundreds of birds and find a couple of rarities: Dusky Thrush (North Ronaldsay) and Black-throated Thrush (Firth in West Mainland). We live in hope.

Song Thrush

Shortly after that, the wind and lash began, and with darkening clouds, we instead watched the blue sky of a Youtube wildlife camera in Tanzania, as animals and birds come to drink from a watering hole. Admittedly, there were some drops of water on the camera lens, but we suspected that was not due to rain, but rather the enthusiastic drinking habits of a thirsty Elephant.