A long and enjoyable day in the field with Bob, over from Kansas. We started at Oare Marshes, arriving shortly after high tide. The adult
Red-necked Phalarope was immediately visible on the East Flood, where we also tracked down a
Spotted Redshank and a
Little Stint. Other waders present included a
Green Sandpiper, a
Common Sandpipere, a couple of
Greenshanks and
Whimbrel, a few
Ruff and
Snipe, a juvenile
Little Ringed Plover and the usual hordes of
Black-tailed Godwits and
Redshanks. Adding to the set of waders were the usual
Avocets,
Oystercatchers and
Curlews. Caldrids were in short supply, with only a couple of
Dunlin noted in addition to the stint. At least two
Turtle Doves were showing nicely in the scrub near the cottages and we enjoyed nice views of
Bearded Reedlings,
Sedge Warblers and
Reed Warblers by the road. A Clouded Yellow was my first this year.
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| adult Red-necked Phalarope at Oare Marshes |
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| Turtle Dove at Oare Marshes |
At Bough Beech Reservoir we had two
Garganey on the North Lake, along with three
Mandarins and a scattering of
Teal. Four
Green Sandpipers were at the back. There were good numbers of
Egyptian Geese and
Little Egrets around the margins, as well as many
Great Crested Grebes on the water. A short walk in the woodland revealed a couple of
Bullfinches and
Nuthatches.
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| two Garganey at Bough Beech Reservoir, with a Mallard |
Next we parked up for a short while at the foot of Leith Hill in Coldharbour and enjoyed nice views of a couple of
Siskins around the village - a bird that Bob had never seen before. A number of
Swallows nesting in the adjacent stables were very active and vocal. By now it was really getting quite hot! We ventured up onto Duke's Warren, hearing a
Redstart but otherwise there was only a
Willow Warbler of any note.
A walk along Reads Rest Lane at Canons Farm soon produced Bob's desired
Yellowhammers, as well as a bonus lifer for him in the form of a
Wheatear - the site's first of the autumn.
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| Wheatear at Canons Farm |
