Alive with passerines, Whinchat
- Good conditions throughout with a light W>4 , good visibility and light drizzle with a few heavy short showers at 14 degrees.
- First job was a walk on the west bank to check the wader situation which produced a single Tufted duck on the water whilst an adult and juv Ringed Plover were across on the north shore along with a Common Sandpiper.
- Very few gulls but some nice juv Herrings along with 4 LBBs whilst overhead the first signs of Linnet movement as well as more Goldfinch.
- Wheatear numbers were down but as I got back to the boatyard several migrants were flitting about in the single tree and on the wire fence.
- A juv Whinchat stood out, later being joined with an adult whilst Willow Warblers , Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings were darting in and out of the tree
- Three specials were present but very elusive with a Garden Warbler, a first for this site, a Whitethroat which is very rare and a Grasshopper Warbler which is another rarity though I have had them reeling in previous years.
- The late afternoon session was very quiet with the boat lads cutting the grass in the boatyard so no birds left in that area. The highlight was as I was ready for going when I had a final scope and picked up 2 Whimbrel way across on the north shore before leaving >W.
- Visible Migration
- 19 Goldfinch..........>SW
- 37 Linnet...............>SW
- 1 ad 1 juv Ringed Plover
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Whimbrel blogging then....>W
- 8 Wheatear
- 3 Wren
- 1 ad 1 juv Whinchat
- 1 Grasshopper Warbler
- 1 Garden Warbler
- 1 Whitethroat
- 7 Reed Bunting
- 3 Willow Warbler
- Present
- 5 juv Herring gull
- 4 LBB gull
- + usual sp
- BS