So long Ospreys!

Well it looks like the Axe is now an Osprey-free zone! Think this is the third day without any sightings or obvious flushes - it was nice whilst it lasted.  Actually its been really quite something, with multiple sightings of multiple Ospreys most days since the end of August, amazing.  Am sure many of the other local birds aren't so sad to see the back of them though, all that endless esentially pointless flushing-up for a  fish-eating bird of prey!  

I've not had much time at all out this last week, but from work it was nice to see this Great White Egret drop in right in front of me on Sheep's Marsh mid-morning yesterday...

Flew off low north soon after, pausing briefly on the Estuary

 

After work yesterday a look around the marshes revealed two Green Sandpiper (been scarce this autumn) and three Greenshank amongst the usual wader species on Black Hole Marsh, and this lovely Whinchat graced Seaton Marshes...

Never get bored of these, this one was near two Stonechat on the usual favoured fence and hedgeline along the southern boundary of Seaton Marshes

 

Grounded autumn migrants are still few and far between here (except Chiffchaffs), but overhead lots of Meadow Pipits are passing through now and there's even more hirundines about.  There have been many hundreds of mostly House Martins feeding over the valley during the afternoon/evenings over the last few days, with some more sustained easterly overhead passage of House Martins and Swallows during the mornings.  It's been good to see such good numbers following dire numbers this spring.  Incidentally the Swallow pair at work have just seen their second brood successfully fledge, and by the end of my work week (Thursday) there were no adults or juveniles to be seen in the vicinity.  Safe travels all!

The only other bird of note this week for me is one that I don't really want to recall.  Whilst relaxing on the beach with Harry on Wednesday evening, I picked up a falcon flying in-off which I first spied at quite a distance.  As it came closer it became clear it was a Hobby, but as it passed over the beach to my west and made its way north over town there was just something a bit 'off' with it.  I couldn't get any plumage on the bird, but the wing tips were slightly more rounded than a Hobby and flight-style not quite right, slightly more relaxed...  I really think I may have let a patch first slip through the net there.  Despite early morning checks in nearby suitable habitat the following morning, and Kev also kindly giving some time at lunchtime there was no further sign :(