Barred Warbler at Longstones

Record shot of the 1st winter Barred Warbler in Mick's garden, Longstones

 

  First of all, Higgo would like to say a big thank you to everyone who wished him well and a swift recovery. Having a heart attack, he was flown off to Treliske Hospital, Truro on Tuesday. Here he had an MOT and felt like a new man when he walked out on Friday. Right, thats enough of Higgo.

  Mid-morning and I had a quick look at Lower Moors and heard and observed 2 Siberian Chiffchaff with 20+Chiffchaff and a very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler. There was also an immature Black Redstart on Porthloo.
  After shopping with Higgo, god that was great fun, we both headed off to Porth Hellick and immediately heard the Siberian Chiffchaff at Higher Moors. The wind was picking up a little, but we heard 2 more on the Porth Hellick side

 

 

Up to 5 Siberian Chiffchaff were all heard calling there short pipping sound, like a Dunnock. These included 3 in the Higher Moors/Porth Hellick area, where this one was taken, with another 2 at Lower Moors. Will also had 2 Siberian 'type' Chiffchaff on Tresco a few days ago.

 

As soon as we arrived at Porth Hellick, Higgo rushed over to the side of the road and peered into the hedge with his bins. I shouted 'What yer got?' He replied, with his Frank Bruno chunkle, and said 'This is where I had the Scops Owl boy!' As he went on about how he saw the cat, I mean owl, I carried on walking and left him talking to himself. I think by the time he had finished going on about the damn thing, I had reached the pool.

 

At Lower Moors there were 5 Brambling with singles heard overhead

 

We didn't get to see the 6 Greenland White-fronted Geese on the pool. We had just entered the Sussex Hide when my phone went off. Mick had just found a Barred Warbler in his garden at Longstones. Ten minutes later we were seeing part of the bird in the hedge. Howeve, it was always obscured by twigs, leaves, branches, jumbo jets, elephants, etc. Well it might as well had been as the thing just sat there sunning itself and all you could see was part of a wing. A few minutes later, it did very briefly come out into the open, but it soon disappeared. Thanks Mick for the call

 

 

If only it showed like this male Blackcap that was also in the garden

 

It was time to get to the club and watch the big match. Spurs and City! Before we reached the club, I pulled over at Town Beach and spotted the Red-throated Diver just off shore.

 

 

 

Higgo watching the Red-throated Diver off Town Beach. It was not showing like it was when it was first found at the end of October. Spurs lost 2-1 to the enjoyment of Higgo

 

This female Stonechat was at Content

 

 

 

 

These 2 male Siskin showed at very close range feeding in the weedy field at Content

 

A Wheatear was at Morning Point, Garrison on the 7th November

 

 

This is one of my favourite songs of his. John Davies Cale, OBE (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground Though best known for his work in rock music, Cale has worked in various genres including drone and classical. Since departing from the Velvet Underground in 1968 he has released approximately 30 albums. Of his solo work, Cale is perhaps best known for his album Paris 1919, and his cover version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" 'Boffalo Ballet' appears on his 1974 LP 'Fear'