On Saturday I participated in the eBird October Big Day recording as many species as possible around Beeley Moor.
After a walk along Flash Lane with Mel and Alan we joined Robin Elliot and Ken on Harewood Road which is a good place to watch for visible migration. In the right conditions in autumn birds follow the valley travelling west, some birds having crossed the North Sea several hours earlier.
We were in luck as birds were moving up the valley and we were soon recording groups of finches and thrushes including small numbers of Redwing and Brambling which stopped off to feed on berry laden trees or in a recently ploughed field.
The first bird of real note was a male Ring Ouzel feeding on the edge of the field but which soon flew high in the air to continue its south westerly journey flying right over our heads.
Later in the morning a Merlin appeared, initially chasing a pair of Jays but for several minutes as we watched the tables were turned and the Jays chased the Merlin!
In all we recorded 56 species, not a huge total by UK standards but a very good total for Beeley and a very enjoyable morning.
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