Tuesday 19 August 2014

TUESDAY 19th AUGUST 4014

13 - 27°C,Wind light variable, light cloud mostly sunny, pressure 29.92 - 29.89 inHG

Liplje - 07:15 - 09:20 - from home up to the raspberry plantation.

Spent one and a half hours looking for suspected Booted/Sykes's Warbler at Branka's house, but sadly to no avail. Common Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher were also absent so I guess last night was favourable for onward migration.

Got the feeling that the Jays were just socialising, they were very vocal but don't think they were harassing anything, moving through the forest in a loose flock. Still surprising to me as never seen such a large flock in UK.

2 Nightingale
4 Red Backed Shrike 2 male + 2 juv
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Black Woodpecker
4 Blackbird 2 juv
Nuthatch
2 Blackcap
4+ Wood Warbler
23 Jay
2 Hawfinch female + juv

Monday 18 August 2014

MONDAY 18th AUGUST 2014


Liplje - Circuit 1

 The Booted / Sykes's Warbler ? was seen in good light and at 30-50m distance feeding in low scrub. However immediate impression was of a grey/brown nondescript small warbler with whitish underside, but not necessarily a phyllosc. Did not bring to mind grey type Chiffchaff in either form or behavior, having a distinctive high crown and moving at a more leisurely pace like near by Whitethroat rather than the often, more energised actions of ''Willow-chaffs''. rather subtle paler supercillium and slightly darker shade to the flight feathers. Leg colour mid tone greyish. Size same as or slightly smaller than near by juv Whitethroat. Probably watched for some 5-6 minutes in total.
As this would be a first for me and the fact that these two species are so similar, some closer observations are in order.
Any comments on this are most welcome.

Possible Icterine Warbler seen only breifly, id based on previous observations of this species here.
Again Willow Warbler seen only briefly but typical phyllosc and plenty of yellow on underside. 
The Pipit alas also seen for short period which was also compounded by being back lit by morning sun. Did pick up very bold black underside striations down breast and flanks ? Seemed heavier build than Meadow and was perched high in tree.
Nightingale giving subdued song ?

Birds seen at 15:30 were in a single group at Chat Meadows.
Sedge warbler gave good views sitting boldly on top of sweetcorn plant.
The scrub warbler was bland and garden warbler like but soon flew off. Mmmm seems to have been that sort of day.




Booted Warbler/Sykes's Warbler ? Possible
Icterine Warbler ? possible
Willow Warbler ? probable juv
2 Whitethroat juvs
4 Blackcap male + 1juv + 2 juv/female
Wheatear 1st W
Whinchat female/ 1st W
3 Spotted Flycatcher
Yellow Wagtail over calling
Pipit sp.
10 Red Backed Shrike 5 male + 5 juv
Nightingale singing !
Bee-eater over
2 Green Woodpecker 1 juv
G. S. Woodpecker female
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker calling
20+ Swallow
Pheasant
3 Blackbird 2 juv
Nuthatch
Great Tit
3 Jay
2 Raven
Golden Oriole
4 Buzzard 1 territory displaying
Sparrowhawk female
Hawfinch juv
3 Chaffinch female /juv
7 Yellowhammer
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow

15:30 hrs - 
Sedge Warbler
4 Whinchat
2 Stonechat
White Wagtail
"Scrub Warbler'' (sylvia) sp.

Sunday 17 August 2014

SUNDAY 17th AUGUST 2014

15-22°C,Wind N/NW 4-13mph, some fairweather cloud, mostly sunny.pressure 1016hPa

Tawny Pipit and Whinchat again in same field. Pipit viewed in evening sunlight in which eyebrow more prominant and also distinct black centres to greater coverts more evident. Black centres to tail feathers and subtle streaking on breast sides also noted.
Woodpeckers near home.

Tawny Pipit  
Whinchat 1st W
2 Spotted Flycatcher
2 Wood Warbler
Blackcap
Nightingale
Turtle Dove 
4 Wood Pigeon
4 Hawfinch over
Cirl Bunting
2 Red Backed Shrike 1 juv
M. S. Woodpecker
L. S. Woodpecker calling

Saturday 16 August 2014

SATURDAY 16th AUGUST 2014

15-23°C,Wind N/NW max 11mph, dull overcast with low cloud clipping the high forest, pressure 1015hpa

Hi All, have just got back from a trip to Blighty so hence the lack of posts here.
Had A good visit if somewhat hectic, lots of traveling around to see everyone and little time for serious birding so now glad to be back in sunny Serbia.
Feel as though I may have missed out as Autumn passage appears in full swing - on our way to Belgrade this morning in perfect migrant stalling weather, quickly picked up 3 migrants all on the ground in a stubble field on the brow of the hill just to the north of The Lookout. They were all still present at dusk. Particularly pleased with the Tawny Pipit as only my second ever.

Found it easy to id, giving good views in even if somewhat dull light. Immediate impression was of overall plain sandy grey appearance with minimal streaking. On closer inspection showed subtle darker streaking on crown,nape and mantle. paler eyebrow and blackish eye stripe between eye and bill. Two narrow black moustachal stripes either side of paler malar stripe. Pretty much unmarked underside. Blackish centres to all flight feathers with pale greater wing bar sometimes evident. Legs distinct mid to pale flesh colour. Was immobile for quite long periods with upright stance then running around nervously catching insects. Did not call or fly.
The Wood Warblers moving around the woods outside home possibly with tit flock.

Tawny Pipit
Northern Wheatear female/juv
Whinchat
2 Wood Warbler