First days of Autumn

Morning start on Pophills

 Black-tailed Godwit (Pophills)

 Greenshank & Ringed Plover (Pophills)

 Peregrine (Old workings)

 Wheatear (Central lagoon)

Whinchat (Pophills)

Two patch visits over the weekend were rewarded with some great local birding. I couldn't resist a visit on my return from the Humber given the heavy rain hitting the area. I was delighted to register two patch year ticks as a Black-tailed Godwit and a Whinchat were on Pophills. 

On Sunday there were four birders present which is a very rare occasion - Mark & Chris joined Jon & I. Our Greenshank was present on Pophills for a record 13th day whilst yesterdays Whinchat took a while to show before I got the above shot. A juvenile Ringed Plover had replaced yesterdays Godwit and a single Swift past over head.

Over on the main pit there was a second Greenshank on the far bank whilst a Little Ringed Plover circled above before moving on heading south. Our first Autumn Peregrine was terrorising the Red-legged Partridges but had to take cover itself when mobbed by our pair of Kestrels. 

The Cormorant numbers increase each week with twenty recorded on Sunday. Up above the dead Oak the regular flock of House Martins were present and a juvenile Hobby hunted for breakfast, only one Green Sandpiper was present as the south lagoon mud has all but dried out.

As we headed back past the central lagoon we found three Wheatears (including one male) and another Whinchat.