cloudy and cool early, sunny and mainly clear later. mod WNW.
flyovers:
Skylark - 2
Tree Pipit - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 1
Linnet - 3
Siskin - 7
Meadow Pipit - 14
House Martin - 65
Barn Swallow - 19
Sand Martin - 2
Woodpigeon - 230
Greenfinch - 60+
Starling - 130
Another productive and entertaining morning, mainly on account of visible migration. Most activity took place between 0700 and 0900, as on previous days, with a broad range of species moving (possibly held up last night by rain in the early hours).
The commonest species involved were Woodpigeon, Starling and Greenfinch, and highlights included the first Skylarks of the autumn, the second Yellow Wagtail and the third Tree Pipit for the year, three Linnets and a good count of Meadow Pipits.
All three hirundines moved through, with a strong passage of House Martins for the first time in several weeks.
other migrants:
Chiffchaff - 6
Lesser Whitethroat - 2
Reed Warbler - 7
Blackbird - 25
The pair of Egyptian Geese (which originally made an appearance several days ago) have returned, commuting between both reservoirs and loosely associating with Canada Geese, the latter species having increased greatly in number recently with the WR now a regular roost. Three Kingfishers at the ER simultaneously is in itself perhaps not unusual, but actually watching three simultaneously certainly is....
Two Lesser Whitethroats were feeding on berries along the New River East footpath (with a tit flock), and the second Common Gull of the autumn was present briefly on the gull pipes.
wildfowl, etc
Wigeon - 8
Little Grebe - 10
Egyptian Goose - 2
Red-crested Pochard - 2
Great Crested Grebe - 3
Canada Goose - 49
Common Gull - 1, 2nd W.
Black-headed Gull - 30
Kingfisher - 3
