Northern Wheatear
                             

 

                                                                         Corn Bunting

                                                               Immature male Hen Harrier


         On the flashes and marshes were 17 Mute Swans, 17 Tufted Ducks, 21 Mallard, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Reed Warbler and Yellow Wagtail.   Summer visitors included 10 Common Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Cuckoo, 6 Swallows and 5 Wheatears.   Also seen were 4 Corn Buntings, Song Thrush, 6 Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and a Hen Harrier.

         I was unable to find the Blue-winged Teal this morning despite a thorough search.   Knowing how elusive it can be in dense vegetation, however, I think it could well be around nearby.
         After the early rain, the flashes and marshes produced 19 Mute Swans, 24 Mallard, 7 Teal, 4 Shelducks, 19 Tufted Ducks, 6 Little Egrets, a Common Snipe, 2 Curlews and 7 Redshanks.   In the dunes were 2 Cuckoos, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Wheatears, 6 Swallows, 10 Common Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 130 Linnets, 3 Corn Buntings, 3 Kestrels and 2 Common Buzzards.

         The Blue-winged Teal was still present, but not a lot of other birds were seen in the strong and very cold wind.   On the flashes and marshes were 7 Tufted Ducks, 11 Mallard, 4 Shelducks, 19 Mute Swans, 7 Redshanks, a Whimbrel, 11 Little Egrets and a Little Grebe.   Very little was singing and consequently the only summer visitors were 3 Common Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears, one Swallow and one Yellow Wagtail.   Three Kestrels and 3 Common Buzzards noted.

                                                                     Northern Wheatear

         The Blue-winged Teal was still present on the flashes along with 5 Teal, 8 Mallard, 15 Tufted Ducks, 8 Shelducks, 19 Mute Swans, 8 Coots, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Curlews, Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe.   Summer visitors were 15 Common Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Grasshopper Warbler, Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Wheatears, 14 Swallows, a Sand Martin and a Ring Ouzel.
         Two Common Buzzards and 3 Kestrels were over the fields and a Marsh Harrier headed NW.

         Despite comprehensive searching, the Blue-winged Teal could not be found during the morning, but it reappeared in the early afternoon.   Not many changes were recorded today, the best birds being 7 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, Reed Warbler, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Common Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, a Whimbrel and a Greenshank.

                                                                 Common Redstart.

         The Blue-winged Teal remains on site, but is proving quite elusive at times owing to its skulking nature.   Other birds in the marshes included 2-3 Jack Snipe, a Whimbrel, 8 Shelducks, 27 Tufted Ducks, 21 Mute Swans and 6 Little Egrets.   Strengthening winds resulted in lower counts of some migrants, hence just one Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Sedge Warblers, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff , Willow Warbler, 12 Common Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, 2 Yellow Wagtails, Wheatear, Common Redstart and a Cuckoo.   Also seen were 2 Tree Sparrows, 6 Grey Herons, a Common Buzzard and 4 Kestrels.

         The Blue-winged Teal was still present.   Summer visitors at the south end today were 18 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 15 Common Whitethroats, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Sedge Warblers, 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, a
Cuckoo and 6 Wheatears.   Three Sandwich Terns flew north at sea.   Also noted were 4 singing Corn Buntings, 4 Redwings, a Song Thrush, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 180 Linnets, 2 Pied Wagtails, 25 Sanderlings, 3 Kestrels, Hen Harrier, 2 Common Buzzards and a Peregrine.
         23 Twite were recorded on the realignment area and there were 2 Common Redstarts at Pye's Hall.