Manor Farm Birding: Fri 18th Sept 09 - Afternoon/Evening

Saturday 19 September 2009

Fri 18th Sept 09 - Afternoon/Evening - Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail - River Ouse, Manor Farm - Sept 09
14:30 > 18:30
On arrival 20C, warm sunshine, fleeting cloud, SE breeze.

A warm autumnal day yet better than most we've seen this summer.

In the new area, henceforth know as 'The Gravel Dip' the water has been raised by about another foot or so. Instead of destroying any habitat, due to the way that the area has been dug, more pools and shoreline have been created. There are at least thre Common Snipe now in this area with a couple of Green Sandpiper, in the hedgerow alongside a single Linnet whilst the Goldfinch charms dip in and out of this area again attracting one of the resident pair of Kestrel.

Out on the mud around 250 Lapwing, with another hunrded or so on the ploughed field north of the river. Also around 70 Black Headed Gulls dozed out on the mud whilst around half that number were on the backwater in Gravel Dip along with a single Lesser Black Backed Gull.

On the old Wader Pool to the east two Teal and a single Wigeon remain alongside another Green Sandpiper. Also out on the mud in their usual corner were five Little Egrets a record for the site. Unfortunately these were flushed by two trespassers (not birders) but three reloacted to the Dip.

A trip along the River Ouse saw a returning female Grey Wagtail (see pics below) and the welcome sight of the Kingfisher once more, now surely resident in this stretch of the Ouse once again.

Viewing Gravel Dip from the north side, from over 'Front Brook' a gradual build up of Pied Wagtails, over 20 birds, were noted, favouring the sun facing gravel hills to burrow in to make use of the warm sand. Given this was the area where White Wagtails were viewed most often earlier in the year a place to be watched.

Returning to the southside of the Dip along the canal both Green and Greater Spotted Woodpecker were noted and unfortunately in the top SW corner of the ridge several rabbits with progressive myxomatosis.

During the afternoon a steady progression of small to medium size parties of Swallow, Housemartin and Sandmartin passed through.

As the sun started to set gulls numbers increased, mostly again BHG's but in the last fall around 30 Lesser Black Backed Gulls including a handful of juveniles and a couple of Herring Gulls.

As the light faded a Hobby flew over the valley while the last bird of the day was another lone Green Sandpiper on the High Pool south of the farm buildings alongside half a dozen Mallard and the Moorhen family.

On the insect front Dragonflies abound but they are on next years list for deciphering. Several Butterflies still about enjoying the September sun, more Commas than usual an odd Peacock and a smattering of both Large and Small White but for the first time in a while in appropriate weather not a single Painted Lady.

Pics, click to enlarge.

Little Egret - Gravel Dip, Manor Farm - Sept 09