Tuesday 15 September 2015

Spotted Redshank Spotted

The weather wasn't exactly conducive for common autumn migrants this morning so I wasn't too surprised to find nothing lurking in the bushes. I didn't even see a blackcap and only noted 2 chiffchaff - it was as if everything had cleared out overnight.
At least things are livening up at Freeman's Pools; I counted an impressive 10 little grebe on the main pool. Coot numbers have increased slightly with 32 present and along with the 6 wigeon there were 4 newly arrived tufted duck. A little egret was on the island along with a grey heron.
A greenshank, common sandpiper and adult Mediterranean gull were on the river off Marsh Point.
A calling spotted redshank flew over me as I walked toward the Wildfowlers' Pools - perhaps it had come up from there or the Flood? It continued on toward Freeman's Pools but seemed to drop onto the river somewhere near the old tip. We don't get too many 'spotshanks' on the patch so that was nice wee surprise.
Other than a dozen or so dunlin and 5 golden plover there was nothing among the many redshank and lapwing at Gull Bank.
The relatively warm sunshine had brought out the usual array of common dragonflies and butterflies.

Jon

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