Friday 5 September 2008

FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER - DELUGE OF HOUSE MARTINS


FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2008

(A day of torrential rain bringing severe flooding to parts of South Wales, the West Midlands and the South West, with 40 flood warnings still in place this evening, two severe. Wind mainly in the SE but fairly light, and later veering more south. Cooler than of late)

WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(1750-1930; with SR & JT)

Sinensis Cormorant - 26
WHOOPER SWANS - pair still present
LITTLE EGRET - 2 still
Common Teal - large increase to 196 birds
Eurasian Wigeon - 4
*GARGANEY - present for its 28th day, feeding with Common Teal to the right of the hide. See Dave Bilcock's excellent photograph above.
*NORTHERN PINTAIL - all 5 birds still present
Northern Shoveler - new high of 86 birds

Lapwings - hefty increase to 458 birds
COMMON GREENSHANK - 5 juveniles still present
COMMON SANDPIPER - 2 still present
*BLACK-TAILED GODWIT - 2 juveniles still present, both showing very well this evening from the hide

HOBBY - 3 still present including juvenile

**HOUSE MARTINS - at least 800 present just prior to a torrential rainstorm this evening; I had earlier click-counted 712 birds at 1820

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