11th Sep 2016: Pipits on the move

The end of the week and it certainly wasn't dull but there were no real headline birds, with the overhead passage on Sunday being the most interesting. The Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper were both around till Friday. Thursday morning there was a bit of passage with a flock of 37 Swallows and 3 Yellow Wagtails going ~south and a Lapwing flew over north.

Above and below courtesy and copyright of JFT
Taken earlier in the week

Saturday morning John headed out in the rain to monitor for anything coming through. He did find an adult Common Tern and a 1CY Med Gull, so some reward for being out in the rain. The tern was around all day and was near enough, if not already, in winter plumage. Later in the evening Colin was out and confirmed a Whinchat was still up in the valley.

John and I headed out Sunday morning to see if the previous days rained had dropped any passerines but apparently it didn't or they had all cleared out overnight. There was a big Meadow Pipit movement though and we had at least 24 over in the morning. It continued all day with Colin having a steady trickle of singles throughout and a flock of 13 late afternoon. He also had a flock of 30 Swallow and three Yellow Wagtails over south and a Raven over west. The Willow Tit was in the wood and a Whinchat was still up the valley.