7 OCTOBER 2008

Juvenile SPOTTED REDSHANK at Wilstone Reservoir, 7 October 2008 (Dave Bilcock)

TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2008

Gale force Southerly winds swept across the reservoirs all morning, combined with constant rain and poor visibility. Temperatures held up well, reaching 63 degrees F.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(1100-1300 hours; with Brendan Glynne)

The undoubted highlight was our third SPOTTED REDSHANK of the year - a superb juvenile which later moved close to the hide and showed extremely well. Dave Bilcock also recorded a ROCK PIPIT.

Great Crested Grebes (33)
Little Grebe (4)
Sinensis Cormorant (30 roosting)
Grey Heron (6)
LITTLE EGRETS (1+)

Mute Swans (23)
WHOOPER SWANS (2 adults)
Eurasian Wigeon (98)
Common Teal (303)
Northern Shoveler (32)
Northern Pochard (33)
Tufted Duck (86)
RUDDY DUCK (2 immature drakes)

Common Snipe (4)
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (marked increase, with 47 birds roosting with the Lapwings; DB counted 50 earlier, present since 6th)
*RINGED PLOVERS (impressive arrival of 9 birds, favouring the expanse of mud at the northern end)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1 still)
**SPOTTED REDSHANK - initially found by Dave Bilcock along the South Shore by Cemetery Corner before relocating to the mud by the Drayton Bank Hide, where it showed exceptionally well and was superbly photographed. It was a typically dark, heavily barred juvenile. It remained until late afternoon but was then disturbed by idiots wandering out on to the spit. (DB, RH, LGRE, BG, CJ, et al).
DUNLIN (juvenile still present in SW corner)
*RUFF (juvenile still present in SW corner)

Black-headed Gulls (300+)
Lesser Black-backed Gulls (up to 39 birds roosting on central spit)

Great Spotted Woodpecker and REDWING (CJ)

**ROCK PIPIT - one present along the bank 30 yards north of the jetty; it was very difficult to see as it foraged amongst the weeds underneath the bank and after a while flew to the centre of the reservoir and could not be relocated subsequently (Dave Bilcock only).

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR

The two juvenile LITTLE GULLS still remained

IVINGHOE HILLS NR

Seven COMMON STONECHATS by the Sheep Pens (DB)