Saturday 1 August 2009

Saturday 1st August 09 - Morning - Greenshank still...

6:00 > 11:00am
Calm, cloudy, sunn breaking through but then rain.

On arrival the main body of water (now mud) contain around 100 Canada Geese while the surrounding fields held the same number if not more of gulls mostly Black Headed but with a sprinkling of Lesser Black Backed. As things warmed up they exchanges places, geese in field, gulls down to workings mostly in newly dug pit at rear of original area, best viewed following Front Brook as it leaves the Ouse on far side of site.

The Greenshank was still in residence but flighty between the NW inlet and the last shallow pool in the main area. This pool also held a single Common Sandpiper, three Green Sandpipers and Little Egret. And the Kestrel was doing his best to catch the ever growing Goldfinch flock that frequents the thistled banking to the north of site.

Away from the water both Greater Spotted and Green Woodpeckers were very active especially in the trees at the bottom of central field.

Notable on the butterfly front apart from the amount of Large Whites was the number of Painted Lady started to drift through in small numbers.

And finally an oddity from a party of Terns present firt thing. This party of five was on the water resting when I arrived and I never really got that good a look at them as I was checking first to see if the Greenshank was still on site first. As the multitude of geese rose to go elswhere for the day they (the 5 terns)took off from the water out the corner of my eye heading south together in a tightish group so I guess they might be on passage. I was halfway up the hill, behind the farm buildings, well away from the water, when one peeled from the group, which was flying well away from me anyway, sent out alarm calls and dived within about three foot of me a couple of times than happily joined the others and went on its way. Strange to say the least and certainly nothing i'd experienced before.

Green Sandpiper - Birdguides
Green Sandpiper - BTO
Green Sandpiper - RSPB
Green Sandpiper - Wiki

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