Wednesday 7 April 2010

Knot what we Wanted


Late morning to mid afternoon visit.  NW 1-2 at first, increasing to NW 4-5.   1-3 oktas.

A lengthy vigil for osprey from Marsh Point was a bit osprey-less, even with back-up from eagle-eyed health professional Guy McC.

However, thirty black-tailed godwits and a few knot were roosting beside the Point.

Knot are pretty scarce this far up the estuary. Probably moreso than migrating raptors, irrespective of this session's blank!

A trickle of hirundines was about it for passage, with about 40 swallows and 12 sand martins seen heading north.

Two little ringed plovers were at Freeman's Pools for a while, as were three pairs of shelduck and a little egret.

Forty-five linnets were foraging on the stubble fields, keeping company with four pairs of lapwing and two singing skylarks.

Guy's water rail was a good record for April.

Three or four willow warblers, two blackcaps and seven chiffchaffs were more seasonal. But no wheatears were to be found.

Dan.

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