September update as migration steps up a gear

* Vis-mig switched to the coast, with limited success

* Meadow Pipit added to House list

* Nathusius’s Pipistrelle Survey.. Highlight was a Nathusius’s Pipistrelle

* Badger watch.

Vis Mig at Badminston continues at a reasonable pace. Numbers aren’t particularly high just yet, and I’m not sure if I am sitting in the optimum location. Slow moving Hirundines seem to pass tantalizingly North of me which is no problem, but finches and Pipits could be going undetected so a tweak of the viewing location might be in order. Best bird so far has been an Osprey, and judging by recent reports from the North end of Southampton Water, I suspect a decent number of Ospreys pass the area. Any change in my location needs to ensure the flyway past the power station is still in view.

Closer to home, Meadow Pipit was added to the house list during a fairly massive movement across the region (e.g. a few hundred over Christchurch Harbour). This has been a very elusive species over the house, despite them being regular in fields 400 yards away!

Finally, on a long dog walk yesterday (19th Sept.) I logged a big increase in numbers around Hoe Lane: large groups of Swallows and House Martins, about 50 Gulls (mainly Herring Gulls) on a fresh plough, plus Meadow Pipit, and 2 Wheatears.

Aside from birds, I have repeated the Nathusius’s Pipistrelle survey at the beginning of September at Testwood lakes. At least one Nathusius was picked up, very late in the survey, and up to three on the repeat survey. 

Been a good month for Mammals with  incredible close up views of Fox and Badger being fed in a New Forest garden. The Badgers literally pressed against the patio door waiting for food.