Greenshank
With more important things to deal with at the second, the week involved less time in the field than usual, but still produced some entertaining sessions and a few surprises. Nothing quite as evocative of the time and place as last week's Icterine Warbler, but plenty of migrants, and indeed a far rarer species locally - two Willow Tits (below) at the Dams from 16th were only the third or fourth record in the last 25 years.
While watching a fresh juvenile Whinchat (the first of the year, above) in the set-aside by the tip on the same day, an Osprey made slow progress south-west and a Med Gull drifted north-west; throw in several Pied Flycatchers and good sprinklings of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, and Ruff, Greenshanks and various other waders either down or heading over, and it was a far from boring session in the field.
Hare of the dog
The rest of the week was less eventful (despite daily rounds to varying degrees), although passerines included more Willow Warblers and Pied Flycatchers, the first autumn Tree Pipit over, a few more of the common Sylvias, the odd Buzzard over and various waders over and down. All well and good, but the next few days proved much more productive....
Black-tailed Godwit
Mallard & Greenshank
