After a bright sunny morning the weather clouded over and the first raindrops were felt just as three intrepid birders arrived to start the walk. By the footbridge there were Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat, so at least the warblers were not put off by the weather. The rain came and went in short, [...] [...]
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There was a good arrival of migrants over the last two days with warbler numbers shooting up. The reed beds hold several Reed and Sedge Warblers and several Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers have arrived. Swallows, House Martins and Swifts have been passing through in good numbers all day. In the morning a Curlew flew [...] [...] The rain was unrelenting today but there were still more Swallows over the Slurry Lagoon than I had seen so far this spring, plus two House Martins. A Lesser Whitethroat sang and then showed itself in the bushes at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, near the steps and a Curlew called as it [...] [...] Although beautifully sunny there was still a cold north wind blowing so not much migration was noted. A Swallow investigated the nest sites under the railway bridge, so it might be the first one of our birds back. Several Sand Martins flew through and there was a northward passage of Skylarks. Six Common Terns were [...] [...] This morning was cool and over cast and not very promising for migrant spotting. Towards mid-morning the clouds started to break up and the sun nearly shone. Over the Deep Pit eight Common Terns squabbled and chased before two pairs settled on the breeding platforms. A Sedge Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit, along [...] [...] This morning, on the monthly bird count, there were several new birds in, including five Willow Warblers, four Sand Martins, a Swallow and a Wheatear. More Chiffchaffs had arrived and also more Blackcaps. Three Buzzards and two Shelduck were also seen. PS. [...] This morning at about 10.00 the Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon, walking along the front of the reed bed. There were also four Pintail and a Green Sandpiper present. On the river there were five Common Sandpipers and a Curlew. RW. In the afternoon, about 15.00 all of the gulls flew up as an [...] [...] This afternoon the Swallows and House Martins were gathered on the wires by the railway bridge when they all took off in alarm as a Hobby made an appearance. They all flew together and kept above and behind it, some making stoops to drive it away. The Hobby seemed unconcerned, making a couple of stoops [...] [...] This morning the rain persuaded some passing waders to pause on the Slurry Lagoon. Four Dunlin and three Ringed Plover were feeding on the exposed mud. Nine species of warbler were seen or heard and several were feeding fledglings and there were fledgling Swallows by the railway bridge. PS. AE. [...] This afternoon a small Calidrid wader, probably a Dunlin, flew around the Slurry Lagoon several times before flying off to the north-east. There was a Common Sandpiper on the river bank and towards evening, during a Hirundine raptor alert, a House Martin was seen high above the Swallows. PS. JMD. [...]  |
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