October 2006; Goldcrests and Hawfinches

Goldcrests FOR SALE
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Hawfinch

Hawfinch

For me, two classic October species. Goldcrest migrate in their millions during the month and in the right conditions the ground may be covered in them, the conditions being wet mornings with an onshore wind. The stockholm archipelago is a great place to see these birds and numbers can be in the thousands on some of the outlying islands. This sketch was done the evening after a trip to Landsort, a favourite site of mine in spring and autumn,

Hawfinches gather in beech woods in October to feed on the crop of beech mast the trees shed at this time of year. A large flock of up to 50 of these impressive finches can gather at Tyresö Slott Park, truly fantastic birds, with a fantastic call as they fly off overhead.