Thursday, August 23, 2007

23rd August 2007

two sites today:

Stoke Newington reservoirs 0700-0915 MJP, PC, LP
o/c, intermittent drizzle. light / mod NNE.

Common Sandpiper - 1
Common Tern - 1
Willow Warbler - 7
Reed Warbler - 6
Blackcap - 3
Goldcrest - 8
Shoveler - 20
House Martin - c40
Sand Martin - 3
Sparrowhawk - 3

Nothing particularly spectacular at the reservoirs today, but a feeling of migration being well underway with Willow Warblers, hirundines and other bits and pieces having dropped in under stormy night skies or moving through.

Walthamstow Marshes 0930-1130 MJP
cond. as above.

Yellow Wagtail - 8
Whinchat - 4
House Martin - 15
Sand Martin - 1
Grey Wagtail - 2
Stock Dove - 25
Starling - c300
Goldfinch - c45
Linnet - 2

Again, a strong sense of migratory movement in dark, often drizzly conditions - it was the turn of the cow field to produce the goods today, and while nothing quite lived up to the Stone Curlew of the day before yesterday, the presence of no less than eight Yellow Wagtails and four Whinchats was easily enough to keep entertained.