Wood Warbler

Lade - 0700hrs  - cool, cloudy, sw 2 - There was a noticeable clear out of warblers around the ponds from yesterday with numbers back to more normal levels. At least 100 Sand Martins and 30 Swifts were hawking insects over the shingle ridges and the Black-necked Grebe remained on south lake. The moth trap has not been in operation since returning from holiday due to cool nights and strong winds.
Wood Warbler - Nipped out onto the Marsh to see a Wood Warbler in a private garden that performed admirably, at times down to ten feet. Unfortunately the bridge camera was not having any of it and all I could get was a blurred shot of what was a real show-off. Wood Warblers have gone the way of many passage migrants in these parts, such as Pied Fly, Gropper and Tripit, to become something of a scarcity.

                                Wood Warbler - honest!

RSPB - Nothing much to report here apart from Common and Green Sandpipers, Dunlin and Redshank on Burrowes and a Clouded Yellow in the car park. From Screen hide five Garganey, Dunlin, Blackwit and Redshank amongst legions of Lapwings and dabbling ducks while at the south end my first Pintail of the autumn. Also from Screen a Water Rail played hide and seek in the reedbed. A well camouflaged (that`s my excuse!) Red Underwing on Hanson hide was pointed out to me by an eagle-eyed PB.

                                       Red Underwing, Hanson hide