Weekend of 2 halfs

Saturday was rainy most of the day and I'd hoped for some wader excitement, but it never happened, 2 Common Tern flew in at LFGP, 2 Green and 3, possibly 4 Common Sandpiper, was about it, the Mandarin was on show quite close for a change. 2 Wigeon and a Snipe was all to be said there.

A good flock of 700-800 House Martin over BSl, held a the odd Swallow and Sand Martin.

Sunday was a much cooler and brighter morning, little breeze and perfect for passage, Brian had already had Lesser Whitethroat and Wheatear before the bird walk began.

We headed for the car park field straight off, I'd picked up one small job over, but didn't get enough on it to ID it. On the left side of the field a Whitethroat, plenty of Blackcap, then I picked up a male Redstart around the Elders behind Lavell's which moved to the middle compound of the car park field itself. The Wheatear showed quite close, but half hidden in long grass by the nearest vent.

I now picked up more small jobs and deduced they were Meadow Pipit, 4+3+11+ 3 more much later over LFGP. The first of the autumn they are well timed in relation to recent years;

2009
Sep:10+5th, steady passage S/SW all morning. 20+/20th over SE in 2-3's often with Swallows. 21st onwards, further passage 2-8 birds at a time (8+/26th).

2010
Sept:1/8th W over LFGP (FJC), 3/12th over NW, 11/13th, 5+2+1+3 W/NW, 2/15th over. 4-5/20th over, 30+/28th over SE @17:00, 10+/29th in landfil near/NE Lodge Wood.

2011
Sept:5/9th (3+2 over S/SE), 3-5/15th landfill, 20+/19th am, 30+/pm, 20+/20th at N end + Ken Puglsey. 20+/23rd (2's & 3's then 11+) all S/SE, 15+/27th LF landfill, 2's & 3's over.
Oct:50-100/5th SE LFGP

2012
Sept:20+/12th South (FJC), 30+/13th over in 3-5's.

2013
Sep-3/10th SE over car park 10:00 (FJC),  2/11th (BTB), 6+/12th SE off landfill (FJC), 5/16th, 2 then 3 E/SE 07:00,

2014
Sept:1/6th LFGP (FJC & BTB) East over landfill, 4/7th NW (FJC), 2/11th N (MFW & FJC), 10+/22nd probably many mor thru NW

2015
Sept:2/3rd possibles dropped onto landfill 10:20 in front of scrub (FJC). 2/11th over LFGP (PSc), 3-5/15th moving about landfill (FJC, TAG & BTB), 3+5/17th 3 over, 5 landfill, 70+/19th, 17+12+30+, plus numerous 2-5's, 20+ remaining on landfill (FJC), 100+/24th 09:30 on landfill (FJC), c150/26th (FJC), c200/28th grass cut (BTB), 8/29th

The rest of the bird walk was okay, but little to speak of at LFGP, Lavell's held 55 Tufted Duck and the autumn's first Pochard, a juvenile.

These two new ones for September place the month on 95, level with 2008 and 2011, one more to put us on 3rd place held in 2014. 2nd place is 97 held in 2010. We are missing Water Rail and Garden Warbler and often see Redwing and Siskin in before month end, but not forgetting a much awaited Garganey and perhaps some other waders.