September 15th 2009

When I arrived at the pond just after 6:30 the place was heaving with birds with a large overnight influx of hirundines and at least 3000 gulls still hanging around after the roost and reluctant to leave in the cool blustery conditions (north north east gusting 25mph)
Both farborough and toft bank had many wagtails and pipits before being kicked about by the walkers and the sheltered areas had finches and warblers. Couldn’t find the pec first time round and had to play catch up later but the bird of the day was the juvenile Pied Flycatcher that appeared at the end of the old bridal path in the perimeter hedge about two thirds along and below farborough bank at 11pm. Unfortunately it chose a spot the Lesser Whitethroats like so they pushed it back over the hedge so viewing became difficult with poor distant views obtained by walking half way down toft bank and looking back as it worked its way back to towards the reservoir entrance.
Highlights of a cracking visit were:-
Caspian Gull: adult on the surface in toft bay on arrival, first of the autumn.
Yellow-legged Gull: two adults and a second year bird off farborough spit
Black Tern: one out in the centre and not easy to see in the conditions
Pectoral Sandpiper: still present but please consider other birds, birders and habitat if you are tempted to go on to shoreline to photograph. A number of complaints received today regarding the antics of some birders. Officially you are not supposed to be there and with many fishermen on the north bank there is limited shoreline on the south side. Cheers.
Shelduck: juvenile still in toft shallows.
Curlew Sandpiper: juvenile flushed by fishermen and photographers becoming very mobile and elusive
Dunlin: 2 in toft bay and one flew south.
Ringed Plover: one toft bay and 2 in windsurfing area.
Little Ringed Plover: one juvenile wind surfing area.
Sanderling: 3 juvenile flew past hensborough bank towards inlet at 10am
Ruff: one juvenile windsurfing area
Yellow Wagtail: 40 on the banks and 20 heading south over country park
Meadow Pipit: 30 at least on banks and 20+ heading south over country park
Grey Wagtail: a very impressive count of 8 among the wagtails and pipits indicating some were migrants
Wheatear: at least three present.
Lesser Whitethroat: 3 in the area described above
Chiffchaff: 11 with 4 in country park, 2 below hensborough bank, 2 below farborough bank and 3 in toft shallows.
Willow Warbler: 4 with 2 in country park, one windsurfing area and one toft shallows.
Blackcap: singles in country park and toft shallows.
Hirundines made up of 1500 House Martin, 500 Swallow and 300 Sand Martin with 80% moving on by mid-morning.
Swift: one with the above over biggen bay
Also 31 Teal, 18 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 20 Linnet, 2 Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

Also of interest is that Bob forward details of a colour ringed Cormorant (orange CHX) seen around the pond recently and it comes from Abberton Reservoir, Essex.

Richard