Before the babysitting I grabbed a few hours birding at Knott End this morning with the highlights being a high-for-August count of Oystercatchers followed by a smattering of newly arrived Willow Warblers deposited by last night’s thunder and lightning.
As the tide came in and filled the mussel beds the waders split in different directions, when 1100 Oystercatchers stayed roosting on the beach with about 40 Curlew and just 2 Shelduck and an increase to 14 Eider and 9 Cormorant. When the tide filled 8 Sandwich Terns arrived, choosing not to stay around but instead heading up-river in a southerly direction. There was also a steady but small movement of Swallows in the same direction, about 30 in two hours.
Oystercatcher
More than 110 Redshanks flew out of sight, upstream towards Arm Hill and when I walked alongside the golf course to the sailing jetty I found 4 Common Sandpipers, a single Turnstone and 2 Grey Heron. The golf course held 3 Pied Wagtail, 2 Greenfinch, 15 Linnet and 4 Goldfinch and 2 calling Willow Warblers - Later on at home I was to see a Willow Warbler in the garden with a small flock of Long-tailed Tits, and looking on a few web sites and blogs I see a number of other sightings of Willow Warblers this morning.
Willow Warbler
Common Sandpiper
In the car park at Knott End I noticed a Lesser Black-backed Gull, one of the regulars which targets car arrivals hoping for hand-outs and leftovers, but when I looked closer it had the remains of beach or landfill detritus firmly wrapped around its bill. Nothing much to do for the animal except think that it seemed in good condition and had arrived looking for another meal despite the handicap inflicted upon it by the human race.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Another quiet day so let’s hope thing pick up soon on Another Bird Blog. Tomorrow’s forecast is “a bright morning, followed by rain from midday”. We’ll see, but in the meantime I changed the header to a Spotted Flycatcher to bring more luck,.so thanks to all those who enjoyed the Bee Eaters.
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