Scotney - warm, cloudy, SW3 This afternoon we had a walk outback across the farmland to check on the Tree Sparrow colony where it was good to see plenty of activity, particularly around the next boxes in the trees, but not so much on the ones on the barns. Tree Sparrows can have up to three broods, depending on food availability, and if ever a species needed maximum productivity then this is it. Difficult to say how they`ve done this summer but I reckon I saw at least 20 juvs amongst numerous adults plus loads more fledgling `chupping` along the hedgerow, so probably up to 50 birds minimum. However, the oddest sighting was a recently fledged Wheatear with an attendant adult perched on a barn; not your typical breeding habitat for this species, although they do nest nearby on the Army ranges. Whilst on the long trudge outback a Quail (recently found by Martin) burst into song twice from the depths of a bean field, opposite the longest dung heap I`ve ever seen, and where the adjacent farm track was alive with alba wagtails. Also noted the usual Corn and Reed Buntings, Linnets, Yellow Wagtails, Swallows and Skylarks plus a Marsh Harrier, two Ravens and a Spoonbill on the front lake.
Elsewhere since my last post visits to the reserve, Lade and Kerton quarry have yielded the expected build up of diving ducks, mostly Pochards, where there was 60 on Lade yesterday along with 172 Curlew and a Whimbrel to roost out the high tide on the Desert.
Lade Bay - 1700hrs - I`d barely got home this afternoon when news came through of a Kentish Plover found by Jacob on the beach just south of the Lade car park. I was soon on site watching this cracking wader at one of its historical haunts. Many thanks to Dave Scott for his superb image.
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