initially windy (SW), dull & overcast. see below...
Peregrine - 1 adult male, caught pigeon, then flew SE
Water Rail -1
Reed Warbler - 1
Sedge Warbler - 1
House Martin - c40, tight flock south
Wigeon - 1
Chiffchaff - 2
Shoveler - 43
Pochard - 17
Tufted Duck - 46
Gadwall - 20
Little Grebe - 6
GC Grebe - pair with three young chicks
What began as a dull, grey, windy morning on patch turned into something of an unexpected adventure at around 0740, when out of the blue, the SW wind intensified to gale force, the sky blackened, the torrential rain was horizontal and Laurence and I clung onto an Oak tree for the longest minute I've experienced for years....
Birds were (predictably, given the conditions) limited to say the least, and visible migration was non-existent but for a tight, fast-moving and evidently very sensible flock of House Martins, which flew clean through just prior to the storm. The male Peregrine gave great views, and the Water Rail showed in the same corner.
