Sedge Of Darkness

Dan here.

A brief evening visit today.

The common whitethroat count between Darter Pool and Stodday picnic area was eight, but no lessers were heard. Three song thrushes, two chiffchaffs, a reed bunting and a willow warbler were in song along the same stretch.

A male grey partridge was seen near the pylons.

As dusk approached two sedge warblers were singing near Freeman's Pools, where a late sand martin and ten swallows were feeding. Twelve swifts were over the wood.

DH.

Still off passage

The wheatears were still in the newly prepared fields this morning.
One pair of lapwings were seen mating.
A kestrel was hunting at the bund.
Approx. 40 swifts at the cutting at the Flood with another three wheatears and a LRP.
The cutting at Low Paddock Wood was the spot for warblers today with approximately five chiffchaff, whitethroat and blackcap singing in this short stretch.

Guy

Cool for Chats

Dan here.

A few migrants around today, with a decent count of 23 wheatears, and a tag-along whinchat.

Numbers of off-passage martins and swifts were good but less easy to quantify.

Certainly up to thirty swallows, eighteen swifts and six sand martins were over Freeman's Pools but there was clearly some turnover (a changing mix and three or four house martins making a brief appearance).

At least ten swifts were also hawking over two little ringed plovers on the flood and up and down the cutting.  The pleasant chattering of swallows seemed to be everywhere at times. Thirty of the latter were at Stodday sewage works, aswell as three sand martins.

Although not too conspicuous in the stiff breeze, common whitethroat numbers appeared to be up, seeming to evidence a late but welcome main arrival.

A lone whimbrel was noted on the marsh.

DH.

Rain, rain don't go away.

Suprisingly a quite pleasant walk round in the rain where the number of deer observed almost exceeded the number of people braving the conditions.
3 wheatears were on the flood with 2 lesser whitethroats, 2 sedge warblers, willow warbler, common whitethroat and blackcap all singing in this area.
A male pochard was on Freemans pools. I'm sure one passed by at this time last year also.
The lapwings are re-establishing territories on the maize fields. They generally get chicks off on the second, third or even fourth attempt- it's just painful watching all their hard work destroyed.
2 groups of approx. 10 swifts. all these birds were moving south.
2 house martins and approx 40 swallows at Freemans and wildfowlers.

Guy

Weather, predators and machines, not a recipe for success....

Interesting day, Sedge Warbler playing tricks on us all, went from Sedge, Reed, Sedge, Reed and finally Sedge Warbler. Starting bid for bins on eBay 50p! Ha ah. Other birds Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff. On the Flood 3 Lrp. Freeman’s Pool, Goldeneye not present at lunchtime (was still there yesterday). The cultivation has begun of the stubble maize fields, a sad sight as Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Redshank nesting, and a pair of Grey Partridge flushed, difficult to assess damage. There has been a marked increase in corvids over the past few weeks, with up to 40 Jackdaws and half as many again of Crows, so who knows! More comments to follow I’m sure. We need a plan for next year, if the birds attempt to nest again. Last year seemed more successful, maybe the weather has contributed this year as well. Weather, predators and machines, not a recipe for success.

Steve

Trickle Over The Trig

Dan Here.

While Guy was birding at marsh level I was up on nearby Hawk Mountain for reasons unclear to myself.

Between 3 and 4 PM some northbound vis was to be had- 84 swallows, 11 swifts, 9 house martins and five sand martins to be precise.

Also some good views of local buzzards, sparrowhawks, peregrines and cattle.

This Freeman's Wood chiffchaff was a highly inquisitive individual.

DH.

Late goldeneye

A male goldeneye was on Freemans pools this afternoon
At least 4 LRP's were in the parish. Four were seen together on the Flood with another two seen 20 minutes earlier flying off wildfowlers and heading down the estuary.
4 house martins over the track.
3 wheatears feeding by bank pool with a coot and a chick also.
Low single figures of common warblers scattered around the patch.
2 whimbrel at the estuary gates.

Guy