A day of heavy HOUSE MARTIN passage

TUESDAY 4 AUGUST

A warm wet front arrived from the south overnight bringing intermittent rain, overcast grey skies and surprisingly warm temperatures. I was hoping for an arrival of waders at Tring but as usual this failed to materialise but it was a good day for House Martin passage.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(1500-1730 hours, partly with DB, SR)

Very quiet considering the muggy conditions with few new arrivals; most impressive was the heavy hirundine passage, involving large numbers of House Martins.

Great Crested Grebes (24 including two first-winters and the locally fledged juvenile)
Little Grebes (after a long absence, I was pleased to see that the two juveniles are still doing well, both keeping together by the old boathouse)
LITTLE EGRETS (at least two present this afternoon and both mobile; Dave and Roy recorded at least 4 birds this morning, possibly 5)
Mute Swans (35)
EURASIAN WIGEON (eclipse drake still present)
Common Teal (3)
Shoveler (increase to 10 birds by hide)
Tufted Duck (15)
Pochard (9)

Common Terns (52 still present, including 33 juveniles)

Lapwings (570)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1 on the algae bunds)
GREEN SANDPIPER (2 on mud)

COMMON SWIFTS (constant southerly passage over adjacent fields peaking at 58 birds shortly before the rain arrived at 1730)

*HOUSE MARTINS (tremendous passage, with a peak 262 birds counted over neighbouring farmland)
Barn Swallow (6 by Wilstone Great Farm)
SAND MARTINS (just 8 noted)

Pied Wagtails (11 present predominantly juveniles)
Common Starling (117 by Wilstone Great Farm)

STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR

Mute Swans (28 adults)
Greylag Geese (53)
Tufted Duck (female with 4 small young)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1 feeding on the mud)
House Martins (25)

PITSTONE QUARRY

Little Grebes (13)
Mute Swan still present
Pochard (4)
Stock Doves (2)
Blackcap (1)
Common Chiffchaff (3 juveniles)

DOWN FARM, PITSTONE HILL AND IVINGHOE HILLS RESERVE

An exhaustive walk from Pitstone Hill car park to Ivinghoe Beacon and back yielded poor results and no migrants. Most noteworthy was the number of singing male YELLOWHAMMERS - 9 in total - with 1 south of Down Farm, four on wires between the car park and Down Farm, three between Steps Hill and the Beacon and 1 below the main car park. Only 1 singing male CORN BUNTING was located - on wires by Pitstone Hill car park.

Several Linnets were noted, and a pair of Stock Dove