03rd Sep 2015

Both John and I visited this morning and although there was a lot of activity again it seemed quieter than yesterday. Along the river a large feeding party was active and held Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. John also saw Common and Lesser Whitethroats in the scrub at the southern end of the western bank. This corner seems to be quite attractive to them. Three each of Swallow and House Martin Flew through and a Mistle Thrust flew over north.

This Evening John made a bit more of an extended visit and he saw some good birds. There were two Whinchat at Borrow Pit, where three Yellow Wagtails flew over north west. A Hobby flew over the canal north east and a Willow Tit was calling along the canal. There was one Spotted Flycatcher in the south east corner of the wood by the river and Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge at he southern end of the cattle field. There were three Swifts over the reservoir and quite a decent trickle of hirundines going over - weirdly heading north/north.

Late Evening Update:

Colin saw a Kingfisher on the river and later sitting at various spots on the concrete reservoir bank. Another Spotted Flycatcher in the tall hedge close to the water treatment works. Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost and a Black-tailed Godwit (presumably the same one as previous days) asleep on one leg in a corner of the reservoir at the far end.

If there’s a competition for year’s worst bird photo I’ll accept the award now for this fine image of a black-tailed godwit in the dark, thank you very much!

Courtesy and copyright of Colin Wilkinson