August 18th 2011

After seeing the “space shed” go over last night the cloud cover came in and with rain predicted by mid-morning Bob and I did the pond before emptying Dave’s trap.
We managed 11 Ringed Plover, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpiper either on farborough bank or the spit with 3 mobile Greenshank in toft bay. Plenty of activity in toft shallows with Blackcap, Garden Warbler, family parties of Chiffchaff and Robin, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit and Whitethroat.
On our return we chatted to Dave H before finding 3 Spotted Flycatchers and another family party of Robins. Also around were 50+ Swift, 30 Sand Martin, 200 House Martin, Swallow, 17 Graylag, 300+ Canada Geese, 36 Mute Swan, 2 Stock Dove and 15 Yellow Wagtail. We had already left when the rain started which brought down 2 Sanderling.
With the rain starting to clear mid-afternoon I had another go at the pond but some donkey breath of a birder was walking along the farborough bank shore line so I exchanged greetings of a an abusive nature. Some of this morning plovers were eventually found on the inlet with 4 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover plus Redshank and presumably one of the Sanderling reported earlier but it was very jittery. Other sightings included 8 Teal, juvenile Wheatear, 6 Common Sandpiper, 2 Grey Wagtail, 17 Linnet, 6 Yellowhammer and 5 adult and 3 third year type Yellow-legged Gulls. More rain showers meant a damp end to the visit though 4 more Common Sandpiper were in toft bay with 14 Teal

Richard