Early autumn migrants

Lade - warm, dry and sunny, w 3 - After a few days away on a family camping holiday to Pevensey it felt good to be back out and about around the local patch with Barney in tow. There was a typical early autumn feel to the birding scene with hundreds of Sand Martins swarming over south lake along with a few Swallows, House Martins and two late Swifts. Two juvenile Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard kept the wildfowl on their toes and at least 200 Curlews flew to roost on the incoming tide from the bay. Great Crested Grebes numbers continue to increase with a count of 125 across all waters. Migrant passerines of note included several Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats around the ponds, Yellow Wagtails over and two Wheatears and a Whinchat on the Desert.
 An evening visit to the beach produced the usual waders and terns, plus an Arctic Skua harrying Sandwich Terns on the distant tideline.

                                Cattle Egret

                                Golden Plovers

ARC - Late morning from Hanson hide delivered 180 Lapwings, 160 Golden Plovers, three Ruffs, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Snipe and Knot, plus a juv Cattle Egret, Garganey, Great White Egret and several White Wagtails. From the entrance to the boardwalk a few Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher.