2011: the best year yet.

Recent sightings from the cycle to work through the area include a 2 Ravens on 25th October and a singing Nuthatch yesterday. However, it is six weeks without a patch visit in the heart of autumn migration, so I feel I almost don't deserve an immediate new species for the year, but that's what I get: 6 Lesser Redpoll calling over Bishop's Wood, before continuing south. And with that new addition a new patch record is set - 92 species for 2011. The hedgerows are painted with autumn colours and stuffed with birds today:

Perhaps 30 Reed Buntings as well as Bullfinches, Siskins, Goldfinches and the usual tits, all bursting out as I walk along.

But the highest numbers are of Fieldfare, over 250 present in South field and chattering away in the trees: