Wednesday 26 August 2009

SAND MARTIN bonanza


WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST

Remnants of a Tropical Storm brought strong WSW winds and a very moist airflow to our area today and although two adult Sabine's Gulls were deposited in Worcestershire, no such rarities found their way to this part of the Chilterns. In fact, not one new wader arrived and the only point of real interest was the huge build-up of SAND MARTINS throughout the day.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(1730-1840 hours)

LITTLE EGRET (only 3 on view this evening)
Wigeon (single drake still)
Northern Pochard (marked increase with 16 present)
Ferruginous Duck x Pochard hybrid (drake close to hide - photographed by DB today)
COMMON SANDPIPER (2 on south side feeding together on muddy edge)
COMMON GREENSHANK (all 6 juveniles still present)
Common Snipe (single still present)

COMMON SWIFT (2 seen - SR)
Barn Swallows (22)
House Martins (55+)
SAND MARTIN (30+)
Pied Wagtail (20 in roost)
WILLOW WARBLER (juvenile in hedgerow in NW corner)

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR

An eclipse drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD was present earlier in the day (MW, SR)

WHOOPER SWANS (pair present)
Barn Swallows (25+)
*SAND MARTINS (at least 670 click-counted this evening, drifting around all three reservoirs)
The Sand Martin image above was obtained by Graham Catley

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