Going for Gold

Three people with metal detectors were in the maize fields today. I lost an attachment to my tripod in this area a couple of years ago. I wonder if they found it? Met up with Steve and had a pleasant walk down the track.
Small passerines are more obvious in the bushes with chiffchaff, willow warbler, lesser and common whitethroat either heard or seen. The top track seems on form for warblers. Combined with Stodday, this is a good alternative to my favourite warbler spot on the patch which is still out of bounds. A reed bunting was carrying food at Darter pool and a juvenile robin was nearby.
Two green sandpipers and a snipe were feeding on wildfowlers. 3 little egrets were seen from the estuary gates and a female sparrowhawk was worrying the starlings and lapwings on the estuary.

Guy

Flood, saw first Teal of autumn, Pied Wagtails also present. A Buzzard around fields nearby.

L'addition s'il vous plait

The spoonbill was on Gull Bank during mid-morning.
4 little egrets were on the marsh.
2 green sandpipers were at the flood.
A juvenile kestrel was sat on the sewerage works fence. 3 kestrels were in this area yesterday.
A decent sized flock of approximately 30 long tailed tits had a couple of chiffchaffs and a blackcap in their entourage at the sewerage works.
A common whitethroat and chiffchaff were seen carrying food.

Guy

High Spoon.......

What joy, Spoonbill patch tick, maybe new record tick will check. The bird flew up from the mud just north of Gull Bank then headed down river to the Conder/Lune conduit where I scoped it again. Back on the patch a skittish Green Sandpiper was on the Flood along with a dozen or so Pied Wagtails with young, the adults still feeding them. Freeman's Pool saw Coot with young. In the fields I was pleased to see a few Rooks, a Buzzard overhead and on the marsh Greylag numbers increasing. 
Steve

Woods and floods....

08.30 - 10.30, rain 09.45. Things improving bird wise down the old parish the highlight today being 2 Wood Sandpiper on the Flood, all be it brief, they flew heading NW. Also double figures of Common Sandpiper on and around gull bank, a med gull also seen. A Kestrel was heard and a Whimbrel also. 2 Ravens were hanging about the Wildfowlers’ Pools and a Snipe was also showing well. Swifts, Swallows and House Martins present. A flock of 120 Starling. Lapwing and Black-headed Gull numbers increasing. 1 Little Egret on the marsh.

Steve

Birding Meds.........

Three med gulls were a welcome sight after a week of dullness, so dull in fact I had nothing to report! The birds were on gull bank with black headed and lesser black backed gulls. I couldn't hang about as doing WeBS. The swans on Frog Pond  had 2 cygnets.

Steve

Whimsical birds.....

Another fairly quiet saunter through the parish. Freeman’s Pools Coot and Little Grebe. On the track a pair of Kestrel were hunting, I stuck around and one dived and reappeared with an unfortunate vole in its talons. A Skylark or two was on the marsh and the excitement continued with two Whimbrel near gull bank. A flock of Long-tailed tits near the pylons, Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Wrens etc.

Steve.

Linnet

An adult linnet accompanied by a fledgling was the highlight of a quick visit this morning.
A snipe was heard and then seen this afternoon.

Guy

Lap of the Gods

5 lapwing chicks were at the flooded area next to Darter pool. In previous years, I have seen lapwing chicks form creches in suitable areas on the maize fields especially at Bank Pool. I didn't have the opportunity to check Bank Pool today but another flooded area in the centre of the fields had a few adults in the vicinity so even more chicks may be present.
5 mallard chicks were on the flood, with about 20 black headed gulls including 5 juveniles. Adult swallows were feeding some juveniles at the maize fields. 3 singing willow warblers on the top track may be an indication that some return passage is in progress in between the downpours.

Guy

Horses for courses.....

Freeman’s Pool very quiet. On the track were Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Song Thrush and plenty of Blackbird. A Great spotted woodpecker near pylons. On the marsh 1 Little Egret, 5 Common Sandpiper, Goosander, Shelduck, Curlew, Grey Heron, LBB Gull, Herr Gull and a few BH Gull. Lapwing numbers have increased with a few hundred now present. A Buzzard and a Kestrel were hunting and being mobbed. Swallows and Swifts present and a few House Martins. 2 Skylarks also on the marsh. Horse Fly on good form and biting like mad!

Steve