August 23rd 2011

With a light north easterly wind and rain at first light I was pounding the hill at dawn eventually finding 8 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap and the highlight of a Tree Pipit perched just west of the Leys before it disappeared with at least 12 Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Goldcrest and juvenile Wheatear.
Soon as I arrived home the gear was put in to the tumble drier then it was out again with Bob mid-morning to see what the pond had to offer.
Because of the conditions we had a cracking 3 and half hour visit with juvenile Black-necked Grebe found off biggen bay though mobile due to the amount of sailing activity going on, juvenile Sanderling joined by an adult on farborough spit , 12 Ringed Plover on farborough spit with another 3 in picnic area and 5 flew in over outlet, 4 Little Ringed Plover on farborough spit plus 3 more in picnic area, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Common Sandpiper, Ruff on inlet, 5 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper flying out of toft bay.
Other sightings included adult and juvenile Common Tern, juvenile Black Tern, 3 adult and 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull, female Goosander, 25 Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Wheatear, 2 Grey Wagtail, 15 Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler, 6 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, Raven, 4 Buzzard and 2 Red-legged Partridge.
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was reported feeding on valerian on Napton on the Hill while the late afternoon sunshine produced both Hobby and Peregrine over my garden with Whitethroat and Coal Tit seen and while setting up tonight’s traps and I found a Rusty Dot Pearl – a common migrant though I don’t get many being so far inland.

Gerry and Sandy who I met yesterday on farborough bank traveling back to Buckinghamshire kindly sent me this pic of a Wheatear that was on farborough bank.

The shed made a good pass tonight just a few minutes ago as flew towards eastern Germany

Richard