Cool and cloudy, NW 3 - The first decent 30 species haul of macros in the garden trap from last night included 12 hawk-moths, Spectacle, Delicate, Silver Y, Knot Grass and Swallowtail. It was a much fresher feel to the weather for this morning`s Ted walk out across the fields north of town. Several hundred Swifts, dodging the rain showers, passed over the farmland and New Romney during the morning while plenty more were reported along the coast. All the usual Reed Buntings, and Reed Warblers noted along the sewer margins attending to their young, plus a Yellow Wagtail over and a Marsh Harrier working the ditches. It was fascinating to watch the new robotic grass mower in action on a turf field, all fully programmed with not a farmer in sight, the changing face of the countryside.
With the water levels dropping and exposing various muddy/shingle islands it is now worthwhile checking the two main lakes on the bird reserve for passage waders. ARC is looking particularly tasty where the first Wood Sandpiper (thanks to DS for the pic below) of autumn was present late yesterday afternoon along with two gorgeous Black-tailed Godwits, six Ringed Plovers, four Lapwings and a Common Snipe, plus a sitting Avocet and an Oystercatcher with young. Also noted, a pair of courting Common Terns, a flyover Great White Egret, a Pintail, a Garganey and a Wigeon, plus hundreds of eclipse diving and dabbling ducks. Likewise Burrowes held a few waders, plenty of ducks, grebes and Sand Martin activity around the nesting wall, while a mobile Mandarin Duck was reportedly going between the two lakes.
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