Thursday 18 August
IVINGHOE HILLS
SE wind; misty with poor visibility to the
Northeast
A major fall of HOUSE MARTIN with a flock
lingering in the Beacon area all morning, peaking at 62 individuals. Also 2 TREE
PIPITS over to the southwest, just a single NORTHERN WHEATEAR lingering on the
fenceline down to the sheep-pens and a 'new' COMMON REDSTART in the scrub below
the car park, calling loudly. A single COMMON WHITETHROAT present for its third
day by the two stiles at the bottom of the car park slope and 2 LESSER
WHITETHROATS on the north side of Gallows Hill but otherwise regular fare,
although a single Marsh Tit and Nuthatch were unexpected. Just singles of
Yellowhammer, Bullfinch and Linnet noted, with 37 Jackdaw west, Great Spotted
Woodpecker and 9 Common Starlings.
Very quiet at neighbouring PITSTONE HILL,
with COMMON RAVEN, a juvenile CORN BUNTING, & Yellowhammers, a single Barn
Swallow and 15 Common Starling highlighting. The family flock of 5 Meadow Pipit
remain. Still lots of butterfly activity, primarily Meadow Brown, Ringlet,
Gatekeeper and Common Blue.
Over at COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT, the juvenile
RUFF remains for an incredible 9th day, feeding on the main marsh and best
observed from the Octagon Hide. Also, the juvenile COMMON REDSHANK and COMMON
SANDPIPER remain, with Common Teal now up to 9, 16 Coot, just 32 Lapwing and 2
Little Grebe. Sadly, the Tufted Duck brood is now down from 9 to 5.
At WILSTONE RESERVOIR, the water levels are
beginning to drop for the first time this year, consequently attracting 3 return
passage COMMON SANDPIPERS. A single Barnacle Goose remains with the Canadas on
Drayton Bank, while waterfowl numbers in general are up, with the return of 22
Teal, 6 Shoveler, 27 Northern Pochard and 99 Tufted Duck. The moulting flock of
Mute Swan numbers at least 37, while 11 Great Crested Grebe, 8 House Sparrows,
Linnet and this nice Grey Wagtail were also encountered. Little Egrets
successfully bred on the Drayton bank with 6 pairs, with 3 still around
today.
No comments:
Post a Comment