Sunday, August 03, 2008

Saturday 2nd August

Highlights were:

c.20 Whimbrel over. Came in from the north over Kingsmead and turned west before disappearing behind the trees around Fingers. Initially thought they were Godwits but once I got the bins on them the distinctive downward curving beak, curving more sharply at the tip, gave them away. Later we checked out Fenlake in case they had dropped in there but it was dry as a bone over there excepting the fact it was chucking it down, so we got a good soaking for no reward.

On the east side of Fingers we flushed 3 small waders from the north end of east Fingers. Still not convinced of their ID but suspect they were Common Sandpipers although the call was a bit odd. Any suggestions welcome. I flushed some Common Sands at Box End Park this morning and although the visual was similar the call was different with this mornings the usual Common Sand call.

At Meadow Lane GP we had at least 1 Little Grebe, 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Ringed Plovers and a Lapwing. No sign of the Little Egret and Green Sandpiper of previous weeks. On the new workings on 100 Acre there were a large number of gulls, mostly BH but also Common, and more Lapwing and a Grey Heron. Difficult viewing from the cycle track, we need a window in the hedge!

Back in the park at the coppiced section of the Sheep Pen, opposite the Rough, we watched a male Bullfinch feeding 2 youngsters.

That was about it, the rain really started to set in as we got back to the visitor centre but, foolishly, we still decided to check out Fenlake. The rain eased a bit after waiting in the car for a while but it was only enough to lure us out of the car and get over to the main "lake" where we found a dry mud flat. That's when the rain really set in again. Oh well if you don't try you don't see! I think I still have water in one ear :-(

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