Monday 18 August 2008

MONDAY 18 AUGUST





Today's Images (top to bottom)

Juvenile Common Greenshank, with Saturday's adult in full breeding attire roosting on the bund (Dave Bilcock)

Roosting gulls in Pitstone Quarry, with one of our juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls (Dave Bilcock)

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (1730-1830)
(with Dave Bilcock)

Following the excitement of the weekend, today's strong SW winds and frequent rain showers put paid to any new arrivals, and even with the wind in the SE further east and north, none of today's Black Terns made it to Wilstone. The main highlights were COMMON GREENSHANKS and the continuing GARGANEY, with a big increase in Common Teal and large white-headed gulls..

Gadwalls - 25+
Eurasian Wigeon - drake still present
Common Teal - major increase, with 29 feeding in the shallows this evening
GARGANEY - showing very well on mud to right of hide
Northern Shovelers - increase to 21 birds
Tufted Duck - 31 by car park
RED-CRESTED POCHARDS - all three birds still present
COMMON SANDPIPER - 1 still
GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 adult still
COMMON GREENSHANKS - the two juveniles present for a second day, showing very well right in front of the hide.
Common Tern - just 4 birds remaining, including two juveniles

HOBBY - 3 birds still present including the juvenile
COMMON SWIFTS - 44+ this evening, feeding low over the reservoir
Sand Martins - 20+
House Martins - 57+
WILLOW WARBLER - 2 juveniles present in the hedgerow adejacent to the new overflow

PITSTONE QUARRY AND ENVIRONS

The juvenile COMMON GREENSHANK was still present

A large flock of gulls was commuting between the quarry (to wash and bathe) and the ploughed field at Harvington Park (at SP 937 143) and the grass field west of Northfield Road and immediately south of Park Hall Farm at SP 947 133. The flock comprised of 173 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (19 + 67 + 87), 5 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS (the adult and 4 juveniles) and 346 Black-headed Gulls.

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