Essex – Harlow Park – October thru November 2010

I thought I’d bring you up to date with bird activity in the park through the autumn months. Firstly Jays, they were very active through October collecting food, mainly acorns. On lunch time walks I got up to counting six individual birds and they were quite confinding wandering around the path sides. The Magpies population has also grown this year and is the most commonly seen bird seen each day. In mid October a large flock of Redwings passed through and just a week ago there were six Bullfinches feeding high in the trees, Out of interest single Bullfinches are relatively easy to see through most of the year. I saw my last Chiffchaff in the last week of October and about two weeks before that some Swifts passed over! Whilst talking flying through, a Ring-necked Parakeet flew across the car only last week. It has to be said that things have now really settled down, only Blackbirds, Robins & Magpies are seen every day, Of big note is that Chaffinch number have dropped beyond belief, none seen this month. In the pond Mallard & Moorhen have both raised broods and Blue Tits & Great Tits are common. Finally all the Butterflies have gone, but what a year, seventeen species in total.

Life bird count: 399 Year bird count: 252 Month bird count: 45

Photo: Dunnock (Prunella modularus)