Friday 24 August 2012

A mass of HOUSE MARTINS and more migrant SWIFTS

FRIDAY 24 AUGUST


Another run of dips including an AGP and another Spotted Crake - when am I ever going to get another Year Tick?

Anyhow, the forecasted rain never materialised in daylight and in fact it was another very pleasant day, with temperatures still exceeding 70 degrees F. Lots of bright sunshine but an increasing SW wind as the day wore on.

At BATFORD, a nice adult WHINCHAT remained on the fenceline of the large field immediately east of Common Lane

WILSTONE RESERVOIR did not give up either the Garganey reported earlier nor the adult male Common Redstart in the Hide Meadow. No sign of either.

Wildfowl were up though with now 27 Shoveler on site, as well as 8 Common Teal and 9 Northern Pochard. Steve Rodwell and I also saw a single COMMON SANDPIPER, 1-2 Common Kingfishers, Grey Wagtail and an exceptional 270+ House Martins. A surge of COMMON SWIFTS numbering 11 also moved south whilst other migrants included 2 LESSER WHITETHROATS in the hedgerow by the overflow and a juvenile SPOTTED FLYCATCHER in Hide Meadow. A male Sparrowhawk was also seen

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