Thursday, September 21, 2006

21st September 2006

SN Reservoirs 1415-1815hrs MJP
sunny, hot, clear. mod SW, gusting strong.


Wigeon - 13
Little Grebe - 18
Barn Swallow - 3
Meadow Pipit - 1
Chiffchaff - 2
Reed Warbler - 1
Kingfisher - 3
Black-headed Gull - 55
Herring Gull - 2
LBB Gull - 8
Cormorant - 40+
Grey Heron - 9
Kestrel - 2
Woodpigeon - c100
Greenfinch - 50+
Reed Bunting - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 22
Budgerigar - 1 (blue)!

Four hours on patch on a hot, sunny afternoon. Very little to speak of regarding visible migration or passerines (in contrast to recent days); almost nothing moving overhead but for Starlings and Woodpigeons, but time of day obviously a very influential factor.



Numbers of birds on the ER are good, with 18 Little Grebes and 13 Wigeon both being record counts for the area. Three Kingfishers are still present, at one point, all chasing each other around the reservoir perimeter, and the Long-tailed Tit flock has swelled to at least 22. Little Grebes, Ruddy Ducks and Coot all have young broods.