Monday 15 September 2008

13 SEPTEMBER 2008







Juvenile BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Wilstone Reservoir this morning, superbly photographed by David Bilcock (upper three) and Francis Buckle (bottom two).
SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2008

A beautifully calm, still autumn morning, with a very slight easterly breeze. Remained dry throughout, with temperatures reaching 18 degrees C after a cool start.

IVINGHOE HILLS NR
(0830-0930 hours; with Jonathon Nasir)

NORTHERN WHEATEAR - single by sheep pens
WHINCHAT - 2 by sheep pens
COMMON STONECHAT - 1 on fence by sheep pens
LESSER WHITETHROAT
*COMMON WHITETHROAT - up to 4 noted in Top Scrub (SR et al)
Common Chiffchaff - 6+
BULLFINCH - 2 near car park
Goldfinch - charm of at least 84 birds, predominantly juveniles
*SISKINS - 4+ (MW/DB)
MARSH TIT - 2 near car park
Yellowhammer - 5

Additionally, MW & SR saw a juvenile YELLOW-LEGGED GULL and a NORTHERN WHEATEAR on Pitstone Hill.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (0930-1100 hours)

Without doubt, bird of the day was a pristine-plumaged BAR-TAILED GODWIT which remained on Wilstone for a few hours. It had been first glimpsed by Chaz Jackson at around 0820 but confirmed when he, Warren Claydon, Ian Williams and Francis Buckle relocated it roosting on the mud with Lapwings at 0930. I arrived 7 minutes later, and from 0937-0958 enjoyed good views of it as it fed 85 yards away from the new overflow. It was a very freshly-plumaged juvenile, with a full set of dark-centred, cream-edged wing-coverts, noticeably notched tertials and off-white fringed mantle feathers. There was a slight demarcation between the slightly darker buff upper breast and the paler underparts, with a bold white eye-stripe, dark crown and pink-based long and slightly upturned bill. The legs were dark.

After a slight disturbance, it flew up and flew towards the hide, landing literally yards from it to feed along the edge of the channel. Dave Bilcock was able to obtain some of his quality trademark images (see above), along with Ian Williams and Francis Buckle. Eventually, some ten or so of us moved around to the Drayton Bank Hide (now including Roy Hargreaves), where all of us shared exceptional views of this rare passage migrant.

At 1050 hours, it took flight, gained height and flew away strongly west. It repeatedly uttered a loud 'kirrucck' flight-note. I watched it fly west over Drayton Beauchamp, well into BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.

Great Crested Grebe - 19
LITTLE EGRETS - 4 still present
Mute Swans - 47
WHOOPER SWANS - pair still
Eurasian Wigeon* - further huge increase to at least 96 birds
NORTHERN PINTAIL - 7

RINGED PLOVER - 1 briefly (IW, FB & WC)
COMMON GREENSHANK - all 3 juveniles still present
COMMON SANDPIPER - 1 still

**BLACK TERNS - 4 juveniles arrived late afternoon, where they fed very high with Black-headed Gulls on insects for over 20 minutes. Two remained until early evening (SR, JN, CJ, FB, LGRE).

Little Owl calling from behind car park
Grey Wagtails - 2
Mistle Thrush - 5

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