Saturday 6 September 2008

6 SEPTEMBER 2008













TODAY'S IMAGES
The top four images portray the two adult Whooper Swans that are now present into their second week at Wilstone Reservoir. They are believed to come from Wardown Park, Luton, where a pinioned pair has fledged up to 11 cygnets over the past 12 years. Chaz Jackson took the top two shots, followed by Mike Wallen the next two.
Adult Whooper Swan with Common Greenshank (Francis Buckle)
The long-staying Garganey, followed by two images illustrating the 5 eclipse-plumaged Northern Pintails that arrived this week (Dave Bilcock)
The female Red-crested Pochard on Marsworth Reservoir (Charlie Jackson)
Saturday 6 September 2008

WILSTONE RESERVOIR (1340-1500 hours and again in evening) (with DB and IW)

Another day of strong winds and appallingly wet weather. The wind was mainly SSW, with few clear periods; temperatures reached 14 degrees C.

Great Crested Grebes - up to 19
LITTLE EGRET - both birds present, roosting together in the tallest 'Cormorant tree' this evening.
WHOOPER SWANS - both adults still present (see new array of images above)
Greylag Geese - 48
Common Teal - 150+
*GARGANEY still present this morning
Eurasian Wigeon - all 5 still
Northern Shoveler - 95+ (continual increase)
*NORTHERN PINTAILS - all 5 birds still present
Northern Pochard - 33
RUDDY DUCK - 1 adult drake
Lapwings - 209
RINGED PLOVERS - 1 early this morning, alighted very briefly on the islands (IW, DB), with a party of four through mid-afternoon (SR)
COMMON GREENSHANK - all 5 juveniles still present
COMMON SANDPIPER - 3 still present
*BLACK-TAILED GODWIT - both juveniles still present
COMMON TERN - 1 briefly mid-afternoon (SR)

HOBBY - 3 birds still present including noisy juvenile
HOUSE MARTINS - 520+
SAND MARTIN - 50+

*SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - 5 birds present in the tall hedgerow leading north from the new overflow (SR et al)
*LESSER WHITETHROAT - 1 in the hedge above (SR)
WILLOW WARBLER - 1 juvenile in the hedge above

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