Stonechat


      A walk from Stonebridge to Pye's Hall and around the realignment area produced the  following observations.   Waders were 550 Golden Plovers, 5 Lapwings, 230 Oystercatchers, 37 Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwit, 150 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 29 Redshanks and 3 Greenshanks.   Wildfowl included 70 Brent Geese, 46 Shelducks, 180 Teal, 6 Wigeon, Tufted Duck and 26 Mallard.   An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the mudflats and a Gannet passed south at sea.

      A juvenile Hen Harrier quartering the realignment marshes was my first record for this autumn and a Common Buzzard drifted south.   Also of interest were 3 Kestrels, 16 Little Egrets, 9 Little Grebes, 6 Cormorants, Mistle Thrush, 35 Reed Buntings, 80 Goldfinches, 90 Meadow Pipits, 4 Rock Pipits, Grey Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtails, Wheatear, Stonechat, Swallow, Goldcrest and 10 Long-tailed Tits.