Saturday 3 October 2009

ROCK PIPIT still present

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER

A very blustery day with strong westerly winds and overcast skies. No new arrivals.

As Mike Collard predicted, a wave of dead Badgers, with two in the Tring Reservoirs area, with one almost opposite the sewage farm and another in the middle of the sharp S-bend section just along from the car park at Wilstone.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING
(1000-1200 hours; with Mike & Rose Collard, Ed Griffiths, Steve Rodwell)

The SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT was showing very well in the extreme NE corner of the reservoir, favouring the weeds growing out of the upper part of the concrete bank. Despite the fierce wind, it was still feeding and I watched it eat a Crane Fly and several small grubs. Despite showing well once out in open view, it was very skulking once in amongst the weeds. It was a particularly olive-toned individual, with a striking white eye-ring, orange-toned lower mandible and brownish legs.

The single DUNLIN was still present on the spit between the Jetty and Drayton Bank, as were two RINGED PLOVERS, whilst COMMON SNIPE have now increased to six.

Mute Swans have decreased further to just 12 birds, PINTAIL remain at 4 and Lapwings have increased again to 289.

Both LITTLE OWLS were once again roosting on the fence visible from the bank looking towards Wilstone village

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