I carefully chose the day to visit Epsom and Walton Downs in the hope that I would catch some visible migration. I did not get there at stupid o clock preferring to wait for the sun to put his hat on in the hope that a bit of warmth would have the passerines showing and moving around within the area.
I was not disappointed as I ventured down to the Grandstand as an almost continuous trickle of House Martins made their way over the downs heading in the general direction of Epsom. The flow of Martins continued throughout the morning and were also viewed traversing Langley Bottom Farm in the same general direction. A handful of Sand Martin was also noted taking a lower trajectory over the farm. My estimate is very low as I chose to venture into patches of woodland in search of other species.
There was also plenty of Meadow Pipit on the downs moving around the edges of the paths. I stalked the main flock but could not find any other species amongst the birds. Linnet was also present in the area.
The day was a bit windy but very pleasant in the sunshine which had the Stonechat performing well in several areas of the site. Chiffchaff became more vocal as the morning progressed.
Gull numbers remain steady but I always sift through them just in case there is a Yellow Legged loafing with the Herring or a Med Gull in with the Black Headed Gulls. The above fits a 1st winter Herring gull.
Good numbers of Buzzard were taking advantage of the warm thermals with Kestrel preferring fence post to eye up a potential meal. No Red Legged Partridge today but they could have been skulking in the longer grass.
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