Sunday, September 19, 2010

Guided walk Sunday 19th

A cool, blustery day with occasional showers and grey skies.
200 Barnacle geese flew west shortly after 9am; Robin Edwards counted c.185 at Willington earlier. 3 Tufted took off from the lake.

Still lots of Coot feeding on the aquatic weed which is now spreading well out from the NE corner of the main lake. Two young Moorhen, possible about 3 weeks old, were being fed weed a little way down from the centre building. A very good count of House Martins was feeding over the lake and the trees surrounding Fingers; one Sand Martin was seen closing in on the island. A male Sparrowhawk drifted in from the east, only to be teased by the martins.

All 5 cygnets were present on Fingers together with 7 Gadwall (5 males, 2 females), a couple of Heron and umpteen Mallard. A Kingfisher was heard to call. We bumped into two flocks of Long-tails accompanied by a few Blue Tits. There was a Marsh Tit in the 'rough', but no warblers were heard this morning. Very noticeable were Robins, many now able to sing their winter song to defend a territory.

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