Wednesday 20 July 2011

REDSHANKS and COMMON SANDPIPERS

WEDNESDAY 20 JULY

Another day mixed with dry spells and showers. The wind was light westerly and the temperature a little below average.

The water level at both Wilstone and Startop's End reservoirs continue to drop, leaving an excellent muddy margin attractive to returning passage waders......

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
(Late afternoon visit)

Great Crested Grebe (surprise dip in numbers, just 33 counted today)
LITTLE EGRET (although only 12 were on view for most of the time, a record number of 16 birds is now present)
Grey Heron (11)
Continental (Sinensis) Cormorant (32)
Mute Swan (33)
Greylag Goose (26)
MANDARIN DUCK (one present on the central bund, visible from the car park, constituting belatedly my first at the reservoirs this year)
Mallard (77)
Gadwall (10)
Shoveler (4)
Eurasian Wigeon (4 still)
Tufted Duck (61; marked increase)
Northern Pochard (7)
Moorhen (adults with 3 young)
Coot (major increase - 597 click-counted)
Lapwing (167 on bund)
COMMON REDSHANK (5 juveniles on mud by hide)
Common Sandpiper (at least 4 present, probably 5)
Common Tern (74 present, including at least 19 juveniles)
Pied Wagtail (2 males)
Mistle Thrush (4)
Blue Tit (6 in Willows on central bund)
Long-tailed Tit (7 with the above)
Jackdaw (17 in tree behind car park)

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