Colley Hill, Surrey: a morning frustrated by fog but saved by a Woodlark @tonyblake9.bsky.social

Day 7 of the November plants in flower (Surrey uber patch) project! Up to 179 species now, my favourite being the spreading Narrow-leaved Ragwort (pictured), first shown to me in 2011 on Deal seafront by @kingsdowner.bsky.social

Banstead, Surrey: the moon is showing two outer rings tonight, the inner much clearer, both multi-coloured (the image not really doing it justice. Moonbow or lunar corolla? Whatever it is called it is quite arresting, caused by the light on ice crystals in the passing clouds.

Day 6 - Surrey Uber patch November flowering plants: now up to 170sp with such additions as Bush Vetch (pic), Yellow-wort, Common Centaury, Clustered and Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Harebell, Arimony, Wild Basil, Parsnip and Thyme…

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a worthwhile morning spent sky watching… #UKBirding

Day 5 - only five flowering additions to the November Surrey Uber patch list (Bramble agg, Perennial Cornflower, Opium Poppy, Great Mullein and Russian Vine, the latter pictured), bring the total up to 146 species.

After 25 years employment in the environment & education sector, today is my 1st day working as a freelance ecologist, facilitator, & educator! I'm really excited at the start of this new journey - please do drop me a line if you have any bird survey, facilitation, or environmental education needs.

Tonight’s useless fact - I saw all of the eleven 1966 World Cup winning footballers play for their club side bar two - George Cohen and Ray Wilson. Who says I’ve got too much time on my hands!

In 2015 I spent the first two weeks of November @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social and because it was such a late flowering season sought out those species of plant still in flower - and ended up with a remarkable 135 species. 10 years on and I’m going to replicate the effort here on the Uberpatch.

FA Trophy Leatherhead 1 Canvey Island 1 Afternoon memorable not so much for the home team’s 4-2 win on penalties but for the 22-man free-for-all that followed, which owed more to Strictly Come Dancing than any combat sport.

You can only take the back catalogue of 10 artists onto a desert island. My pick: The Beatles David Bowie Kate Bush Cocteau Twins Nick Drake Joni Mitchell Pink Floyd Radiohead Sufjan Stevens Neil Young Just missing out: Kevin Ayers B52s Fairport Convention Aimee Mann Tom Petty Suede

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: my dawn vismig spot, looking east. Not terribly productive so, after a couple of hours, I went wandering down the hill and headed west across the farmland.

Westcott, Surrey: I do like to have a good nose in a game cover strip to see what has popped up - today’s reward was Great Millet (Sorghum bicolor)

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: 15 Red Kite, 1 singing Woodlark, 13 Stonechat, 250 Chaffinch, 50 Siskin and 7 Crossbill. My highlight was this pristine Clouded Yellow butterfly #UKBirding

Canons Farm, Surrey: at least 250 Linnets in amongst the winter wheat and a group of seven Stonechat at Reeds Rest Bottom #UKBirding

Juniper Top, Surrey: 2 Ring Ouzel, 200 Redwing. Earlier at Denbies Hillside, 500 Redwing and 11 Fieldfare, nice mix of finches that included 4 Brambling #UKBirding

Headley Heath, Surrey: a Goshawk, 5 Hawfinch and a Crossbill, but highlight was the vast numbers of Harlequin Ladybirds on the wing. I brushed so many off me and my optics that at the end of the session my hands smelt strongly of their acrid defence ‘juice’ #UKBirding

One of my favourite aliens - Corsican Mint - which has spread over paving for almost 40 years now. I have also seen it at Flimwell in East Sussex, alongside that great rarity Heath Lobelia. I do hope the latter species is still there!

Ah, Mr Frowhawk! Of interest to you @dunnjons.bsky.social

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: from this higher viewpoint a dribble of overhead passage included 10 Crossbills, but it was a calling Yellow-browed Warbler that stole the show. I was unable to clap eyes on it as it made its way down the slope. Relocated 50 mins later by Andy Holding #UKBirding

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: Red Kite numbers are increasing along this section of the North Downs. My estimate of 20 this morning includes 15 together in the air. At 08.30hrs I came across seven birds perched on the scarp slope. How high can the count go? #UKBirding

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a sign of our times - October 9th, stood in a t-shirt watching Redwings and a Brambling at the same time as this Chalkhill Blue butterfly!! It’s all over the place…

Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a glorious morning of sun and warmth, with a steady trickle of birds west along the downs: 258 Chaffinch, 140 Siskin, 1 Brambling, 43 Redwing, 2 Woodlarks south, and at least 20 Red Kites loafing in the area #UKBirding

Box Hill to Reigate Hill and back, Surrey (21.3k walked): quiet. 1 Peregrine, 250 Red-legged Partridge (recent release, many with Chukar heritage), 250 Pheasant, 6 Redwing, 60 Goldcrest, 6 Firecrest, 1 Marsh Tit, 50 Siskin, 1 Yellowhammer Dribble of pipits and finches overhead west 1/2 #UKBirding

Tomorrow’s itinerary: dawn skywatch from Box Hill, walk along ridge of downs to Colley Hill, down to hill base then back along the flat, via River Mole bank, then back up to top of Box Hill. I’m lucky that after 50 years of birding such modest plans find me excited to go and full of hope! #UKBirding

Epsom/Walton Downs, Surrey: still 24 Stonechats present with accompanying Whinchat #UKBirding #LowCarbonBirding

Having a look through the Trektellen database the record day Redwing movement is of 900,000 birds, at De Puinhoop, Netherlands on 21 October 1995. Puts my 26,013 over Banstead on 13 October 2021 into perspective. But then I’m reminded of an apt saying: Comparison is the thief of joy. Too true.

49 years ago today I saw my first Red-breasted Flycatcher (at Dungeness, Kent.) It was a bird that sprinkled magic dust over that time, a realisation that my birding experience was going to be blessed with such delicate apparitions. You just didn’t know when. 49 years! Who knows where the time goes?

According to Trektellen plenty of Chaffinches moving along the Dutch and French coastline. Remember one of my rare forays to Cap Gris Nez one October when we had 60k Chaffinch and 1.5k Brambling on the move. We could see Dungeness, which that day had just a couple of hundred. So near yet so far…

Banstead, Surrey: Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding at Abelia in front garden. October is a good month to see them here.

Epsom/Walton Downs, Surrey: the influx of Stonechats continues with a minimum of 28 present this morning, along with a single Whinchat. Surprised that no Dartford Warbler has popped up amongst them yet. #UKBirding

Colley Hill, Surrey: single Crossbill, Common Redstart and Redwing. 12 Stonechat, unseen Siskins dribbling over. Pic is poor but illustrates the 260x digital zoom on the bridge camera - Redstart was 50m away. Later a sneaky visit to see one of Beddington Farmlands Glossy Ibises. #UKBirding

Chesworth Farm, Horsham, W Sussex: three Redwings that emerged from a sunlit hedgerow on this balmy afternoon were a taste of things to come

Vis-migging is ornithological feast or famine. After c40k hirundines on Friday, and quieter skies yesterday, this morning’s session on Epsom Downs (Surrey) became a contemplation on vapour trails, cloud banks and the empty heavens. But we accept it.

Mole Gap, Denbies, Surrey: this morning’s vis-mig has been a damp squib so it’s up onto the hill tops to see what can be winkled out

Tragic news that a young footballer, Billy Vigar, has passed away after suffering a head injury last week whilst playing for Chichester City. I saw him playing for them a few weeks ago at Carshalton Athletic. He scored in their 3-0 win. RIP Billy.

Mole Gap, Surrey: a truly spectacular morning with hirundines moving eastwards in an almost continual surge between 06.50 - 10.45hrs when it finally stopped. 31,300 House Martin and 7,200 Swallow. Would have been more with another pair of eyes #UKBirding

Colley Hill and Buckland, Surrey: a juvenile Marsh Harrier was present all morning, spending plenty of time perched up in trees. Also, the autumn’s first 2 Redwings, 805 Swallow, 562 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin (hirundines east), a Hobby, 14 Stonechat (good count for here) #UKBirding

Where the 18th - 21st centuries collide in architecture and culture

Epsom Downs, Surrey: 2 Red-legged Partridge, 400+ Swallow (moving west in front of rain), 130 Meadow Pipit (grounded), 30 Skylark, 21 Stonechat (highest numbers since 2022 influx), 1 Common Redstart #UKBirding

Mole Gap, Denbies, Surrey: little on the move this morning although a Woodlark was picked up calling as it headed south #UKBirding

Banstead Athletic 0 Sheppey Sports 2 A light passage of mixed hirundines during the first half included a Sand Martin - 66th species seen while watching football. Lists. It’s a bloke thing…

Denbies, Surrey: this morning’s vis-migging spot #UKBirding

Tonight’s fact that you can most probably do without knowing… There are only two teams in the Championship that I have not known to play top flight football. Preston North End Wrexham. Thank you and good night.

Epsom Downs, Surrey: At last some noteworthy vis-mig with a southerly push from 3845 Swallow, 760 House Martin, 11 Sand Martin, 341 Meadow Pipit and 10 Siskin. Marvellous! #UKBirding

Banstead, Surrey: second garden record of Plumed Fan-foot to MV #MothsMatter

Holmethorpe SP, Surrey: a late-afternoon Grey Phalarope on Mercer’s Lake made up for what had been a crappy day #UKBirding

Chaps! Do yourself a favour and get a blood test done to have your PSA levels checked. I did last month and my elevated levels triggered off a scan, biopsy and prostate cancer diagnosis. The good news is that is a tiny amount, confined and not aggressive. Seems a good time to urge others to check!

Having been an avid @tottenhamhotspur.com podcast listener for a few seasons I always placed ‘View From the Lane’ as top dog - no longer. @notthatmilo.bsky.social , Steff and the boys over at ‘The Game is About Glory’ now wear that particular crown. Do give them a listen…

Epsom Downs, Surrey: looking through the images taken of this Wheatear last week I hadn’t noticed the invert that is hitching a lift on its bill - possibly a weevil sp?