Near passerines

Lade - mild, cloudy, showery, w 4 - A grim morning to be out and about on the local patch, but with a couple of near passerines to brighten things up in the form of a Kingfisher and Great Spotted Woodpecker around the willow swamp, plus two Jays. The ponds were busy with tits, Robins and Chiffchaffs while hundreds of hirundines, mainly House Martins, continue to pulse through over both lakes. At least 10 Little Egrets and five Grey Herons were among 100 Cormorants by the lagoon. When the sun briefly broke through several Speckled Woods and Migrant Hawkers came out to play.

                                Two worn Speckled Woods

                               Cattle Egrets


  Called in at Hanson hide late morning where loads more hirundines were feeding over the lake where our first Goldeneye of autumn was present. On and around the islands were the usual assortment of ducks and Lapwings, plus Golden Plover, two Dunlins, three Cattle Egrets, three Little Gulls, Common Tern, 10 Pintail, a Garganey, three Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard over. Water Rail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaffs, Cetti`s Warbler and Long-tailed Tits noted from the willow trail.