Thirty minutes birding from the patio.

Tuesday 27th October 2026.

Above, these male Pheasants were squaring up to one another in the adjacent field.

Disaster struck last night when I went to check the Moth Box before retiring to bed. The lightbulb had blown! So, no Moth reports this morning, but I will be going into Bridport later this morning to buy a new bulb for the Moth Box.

This Skylark flew high over my head.

Thankfully, I had a bit of a lay in this morning and got up just after 5am this morning and so made my way downstairs to put the kettle on and let the dogs out onto the patio to do their business. While waiting, a Little Owl was heard calling somewhere to the west and over to the east, a Tawny Owl was also calling!

A flock of Stock Doves flying south over the adjacent field.

It was bright and clear looking over the countryside from the patio as I donned both my binoculars and camera to spend 30 minutes before breakfast between 7.30am to 8am. There was again plenty of birds to look at and many more flying overhead, which kept me busy checking the fields in the distance and the area looking west for anything of note.

One of the many Rooks present by the Cottage.

Both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were present, but only the latter was actually seen as it flew up to the tall Pine by the Cottage and then flew off south. Good numbers of Redwing went over that included two sizeable flocks of 20 and 25 birds, plus smaller flocks of 6 and 4 birds.

A Common Buzzard trying to lose these Carrion Crows with a 'photo-bombing' Wood Pigeon in the photo.

Finches were also abundant that included a flock of Greenfinch numbering birds; a flock of 7 Goldfinches, several Chaffinches and a Bullfinch was heard again, but I failed to locate the bird. A small flock of 4 Siskin headed east and at least two Skylarks flew high over heading west.

Let the fight begin. This Pheasant fighting with another.

At least two Common Buzzards were seen soaring distantly over the countryside, much to the annoyance of the local Corvids. Another pair drifted low over the Cottage after I had my breakfast and a Grey Wagtail flew over the neighbouring field and most likely landed on the small lane adjacent to the Cottage to round off a productive morning here in Askswell. Stop press: while writing this up on my blog, a female Reed Bunting has just landed in the trees by the patio!

Take some of this! The Pheasants having a squabble.

Back in Hampshire, ‘Lazee Birder’ Mark Francis found a Shorelark on the Rainbow Bar off Hill Head this morning and a Purple Sandpiper with the Sanderling flock!

Above, the Shorelark off Hill Head this morning and below, also this Purple Sandpiper turned up with the local Sanderling. Photos by Mark Francis.