Chatting

 After yesterday's sad news it was good to spend my day off indulging in a spot of birding. I began at Willowbrook Industrial Estate in the company of Alan Shorrock hoping to catch up with the Whinchat that he had glimpsed here yesterday. Braving the morning mizzle we scanned the area intently hoping for a view but initial results were disappointing. A few Swallows passed through and several Meadow Pipits were noted but it was looking as if a dip might well be on the cards. Things picked up a little when a Green Sandpiper passed over calling as it went and a final scan of the area produced distant views of a Whinchat. Some record shots were obtained before the bird moved further away and we left reasonably content with our results.

Willowbrook Whinchat and ringed Ruff

Next up on the agenda was to pick up a certain Mr Mick Ketley before heading off to Eyebrook. Shozzer, Special K and I began at the bay southwest of the island where three Ruffs and a Greenshank were noted, one of the Ruffs was ringed though sadly it was too distant to get a reading. Further Ruffs were noted before we reached the sharp end and it was here where we did most of our birding. Two Little Stints were the highlight here and though always distant they showed well enough through the scopes. Plenty of Ringed Plovers were observed with perhaps as many as twenty present making them the commonest waders. A Curlew arrived, its call ringing out as it landed for what turned out to be a relatively brief stay and a total of five Black-tailed Godwits were present too. Our wader total was completed with a Common Sandpiper which called as it passed overhead.

Little Stints and Curlew

Before a heavy rain shower brough proceedings to a premature end I managed to find at least three Whinchats flitting around the vegetation around the Eyebrook itself in the company of a Stonechat. Another none wader highlight was a single Great White Egret which caught rather a large fish before it departed down the res being persued by several gulls as it went. The usual Yellow-legged Gull was also on parade while the Egyptian Goose was still associating with the hordes of Grey Lags and Canadas. Not much else to report though once again Eyebrook confirmed its position as one of England's finest birding reservoirs.

Black-tailed Godwit