Sunny, broken cloud, brisk E breeze at times, 17C.
An intersting day at the site. When I arrived gravel extraction was still taking place in the new area so I took the canal route to the riverside walk.
The reedbeds and bushes along the river were alive with the more common warblers both adult and juvenile and Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat and a confused Wren or two and a flock of Long Tailed Tits. There are a few breeding pairs of Sedge and Reed along this strtch but nothing like the numbers encountered today, so assuming passage birds mostly. (See pics below taken today)
By the time I arrived at the northern side of the new area work had finished for the day and the promise the area has shown was already reaping the benefits. A slightly washed out Northern Wheatear was already prominent on one of the gravel piles, quickly to be joined by five Yellow Wagtails including a very pale almost white individual. Minutes later three Meadow Pipits landed on the flatter area to the south. By the time I left this area was littered with, mostly more common, smaller birds, well worth a look for anyone passing though.
On the water in this area there was a gradual influx of gulls mostly BHG's but several juvenile Herring/LBBs also. A single Green Sandpiper pottered about.
Out on the mud to the west around 300 Lapwing mixed with around the same number of gulls, again mostly Black Headed Gulls while three Little Egrets in their usual corner completed the day.
Links:
Meadow Pipit - Birdguides
Meadow Pipit - BTO
Meadow Pipit - Avibirds
Meadow Pipit - RSPB
Meadow Pipit - Wiki
Pics, click to enlarge.
Sedge Warbler - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09
Reed Warbler - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09
Chiffchaff - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09
Juvenile Reed Warbler (?) - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09
No comments:
Post a Comment