One man and his Pond: September 21st 2011

The 2 Swifts over biggen bay were the highlight of our visit to the pond today and must be one of my latest date I have recorded here.
Still plenty of Ringed Plover and Dunlin scattered around the reservoir but as the water level drops even further farborough bank and spit don’t seem to be to their liking with only 2 on there today. Water level is getting so low s a second island off dunns bay can’t be far off from appearing as its attracting swans, Coots and ducks feeding over it.
Sightings were 3 Greenshank, 18 Dunlin, 23 Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, 3 Black Tern off windsurfing area close inshore due to strength and direction of the wind, 2 Arctic Tern, Goosander, 3 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 40 Teal, 20+ Greylag, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 4 adult Grey Wagtail, 10 Meadow Pipit, 10 Sand Martin and 5 Buzzard. The country park had 4 Bullfinch, 4 Chiffchaff, Blackcap and 2 Vapourer Moth.
Both Dave’s and my trap had a varied catch last night with Orange Sallow, 2 Sallow, Rosy Rustic, Brindle Green, 14 Lunar Underwing, 5 Black Rustic, 4 Beaded Chestnut, and Frosted Orange between us.
Out in the afternoon with a look at the Black-necked Grebe at Napton Reservoir but not much else apart from 7 Skylark going over west, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and 4 Raven on Napton on the Hill and a look at Wormleighton produced juvenile Whinchat on the approach road, 17 Tree Sparrow, 2 Corn Bunting, Great-spotted Woodpecker, 3 Coal Tit, Green Sandpiper and Kingfisher. After a walk along the canal and a relaxing meal with friends at Fenny Compton a Barn Owl was hunting the roadside verge of the Southam bypass on the way home.

Andy Hale kindly sent me some photos from Mondays visit to the Scillies - always good to have something to jog the memory and his Sabines Gull means I must go and pay my respects before it goes. How I wish the ones I have seen at the pond had stayed as long.