Tuesday 29 September 2009

COMMON GREENSHANK new in this evening

TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

After a frantic week of national twitching, from Orkney to Cornwall, it was gratifying to get back to some down-to-earth local birding. Having missed the Leach's Petrel and there being no sign of it at dawn, I took advantage of the light NW wind and surprisingly warm temperatures to census the bird populations on all four reservoirs. There was very little new activity although surprise bird was a Common Greenshank that flew in from the east early evening. Mute Swans remain concerningly low; anyone know if they have relocated elsewhere?

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (1700-1800 hours; with Roy Hargreaves)

Great Crested Grebe (21)
Little Grebe (all 5 birds still surviving in Boathouse Corner)
Continental Cormorant (30)
Grey Heron (5)
LITTLE EGRET (4)
Mute Swan (just 15 birds remaining)
Mallard (122)
Gadwall (18)
Eurasian Wigeon (57)
Common Teal (236+)
Shoveler (69)
PINTAIL (4)
Tufted Duck (32)
Pochard (just 14)
Coot (302)
Lapwing (106)
*COMMON GREENSHANK (flew in from the east early evening and landed on the Drayton Bank end of the spit)
Black-headed Gulls (303+)
Lesser Black-backed Gulls (high count of 23 washing and bathing on the mud with noticeable movement of birds flighting NE to roost on Grovebury Pit)
HERRING GULL (an adult Argentatus washing with the LBBG's with an adult Argenteus over NW)

LITTLE OWL (1 sat on the fence behind the car park)
Pied Wagtails (27)
Grey Wagtail (2)

TRINGFORD RESERVOIR

Very quiet, with 2 Mute Swans, 72 Coot and 28 Shovelers present

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR

A further 7 Mute Swans, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 24 Pochard, 37 Tufted Ducks and 163 Coots

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR

A single Mute Swan (making just 25 in total), 2 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Coot. A juvenile Common Buzzard flew over going to roost.

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