13th Aug 2015: Greenshank

John Friendship-Taylor: Today was a pretty miserable one, largely consisting of heavy cloud and showers. I nipped up at lunchtime, somehow dodging the rain for a quick visit. I was rewarded with a rather mobile juvenile Wheatear along the western side of the reservoir. The only other thing worth mentioning was a female and juvenile Blackcap feeding together on elderberries out in the open near to the reservoir entrance.  

This evening, I had a bit of time to kill after work so headed down again for an hour or so and I'm glad I did! Walking along the western side I picked up a Greenshank calling loudly on the other side of the reservoir. It took me a few seconds to pick it up but eventually got onto it as it flew across the reservoir and off high to the SW. A nice unexpected record, just a shame it didn't hang around.

The Wheatear was still about, and nearby a nice juvenile Little Ringed Plover was feeding along the western shore. A very good chance this was raised locally too. An adult Common Tern appeared briefly, as did a juvenile Herring Gull with several Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Finally to finish off the sightings, a Siskin flew over north calling loudly. A very worthwhile visit!