Waiting for the waders

With no LRP's or Sandpipers this morning, I sat waiting for the godwits to fly in, they didn't but I did have the pleasure of a Kingfisher landing on my new perch for the first time.

Am a little frustrated as it could have been a tiny bit clearer, but I hadn't seen it arrive and as per normal it wasn't there long,

Taking his time nibbling in front of me was this lovely Roe Deer,

A Redshank was on the NE shore, but flew across to the SW for 5 minutes

A couple of days ago I counted 51 Egyptian Geese at BSL which is the most I've ever seen and whilst it isn't exciting, its interesting, not even half of them were on the beach.

The lull

I was out at 06:20, straight to Lea Farm GP as usual, I could hear 2 Oycs, but only one was there when I got in the hide. 2 LRP, but little else. So I took a shot of the SW corner before we get the rain in case it gets flooded and we can't remember what it looks like with lovely shallow water and muddy fringes.

Doing my loop, it was quiet really, 20+ Swift over BSL.

Mid morning and Steve WhatsApp's saying Med back at Tern scrape. Here it is

Discussions around it's age point to a 1st summer bird due to the black in the primaries, but such a developed head keeps things interesting.

What I hadn't known was someone had 2 Meds yesterday evening, no age details given, but certainly this bird is the third individual in June, which is quite something considering we've never had a June record until this year.

June Black-tailed Godwits

It was easy to count, just 1 record 1/28th 2011 Sandford (RNM & SPD).

But the first week July has a few more;

2014 - 1/2nd Tern scrape (Linda Martin) Islandica race flew in 09:13 to 10:15 only
2013 - 7/1st LFGP 13:00 only (Bert May)
2008 - 1/7th Ad summer Tern Scrape 17:00 (FJC et al), til 8th evening (M Whitney)

With flocks of 8 in Hertfordshire yesterday & Bucks today (same birds?), I'm fingers crossed for LFGP pulling a few in any day and I hope our little puddle we made in the shingle gets them to land and the SW corner brings them closer

June Common Sands

Today's 2 Common Sandpiper were fairly unusual, so I thought why not put up all the past June records?

2017 - 2/24th LFGP (FJC)
2016 - 1/17th LFGP (Les Blundell)
2013 - 1/23rd LFGP NE corner (RNM), & 1/29th (FJC)
2012 - 1/23rd LFGP (H Whitall & RBryant)
2010 - 2/30th LFGP, in front of hide (RNM)
2004 - 1/7th (OU), 1/12th Lavell's (K Girling) & 1/22nd (TL)
1995 - 1/13th (OU)
1994 - 1/15th Lavell's,
1992 - 1/26th onwards

Just into July
2017 - 1/2nd LFGP (FJC)
2016 - 1/1st LFGP (RNM & FJC)
2015 - 1/2nd LFGP (A Rymer)
2014 - 1/7th LFGP (RNM)
2012 - 2/1st LFGP (A Rymer)
2009 - 1/4th LFGP (FJC), 2/7th (A Rymer)
2008 - 1/6th Tern Scrape (MFW)
2007 - 2/8th onwards LFGP (FJC)
2006 - 1/9th onwards
2005 - 5/7th BSL (ADB), 1/8th BSL (A Slater)
2004 - 2/10th BSL (B Hollands)
1997 - 1/7th
1995 - 1/3rd
1994 - 1/3rd

I like to ask folks to read into it what they will, for me this says it was random until LFGP came along, but now it is looking like the last 5-7 years a new pattern of earlier arrivals, which led to my feeling that a Common could turn up any day prior to today's find...nice to have 2 as well.

There are many in July, but the trend of first passage date has come forward quite some amount since the 80's.

Blink and we're there

I put out the request for information on unrecorded species, Phil fires back Kestrel and Hobby, then Jenny and Steve spot 2 Peregrines over yesterday and at 07:30 this morning I found not 1 but 2 Common Sandpiper...putting us on 90 for June matching last year.

Perhaps we can still add Little Grebe, is there a Water Rail lurking in a ditch, how about a secret spot for breeding Willow Warbler, will a Shelduck fly in??? I think Little Grebe is out there somewhere allowing us to push the June total one higher than ever.

So back to them Common Sandpipers, here is what I saw first;

I'll forgive myself for being a bit quick off the blocks and calling one a Green, but shortly after my first WhatsApp message the truth became clear, not great shots of course

Same 3 Teal, 3 Grey Wagtail and for me first views of Common Tern chicks

Inspired by the changes over time

After reading up all the dates and highs, I felt it might be worth publishing once again the figures, which might point to one, or two things, or both.

January's - Low : 75, High : 90, Difference 15
90 in 2016
87 in 2011
86 in 2012, 16 & 17
84 in 2015
83 in 2005, 06 & 13
81 in 2004 & 14
79 in 2007
76 in 2009
75 in 2003 & 2008

February's - Low : 74, High : 93, Difference 19
93 in 2016
92 in 2012
88 in 2008
87 in 2013
86 in 2017
84 in 2003
83 in 2011
81 in 2004 & 2010
80 in 2014 & 2015
79 in 2009
78 in 2006 & 2007

74 in 2005

March's - Low : 85, High : 100, Difference 15
100 in 2016
95 in 2011
93 in 2006 & 2012
92 in 2010, 13 & 17
91 in 2007 & 2014
87 in 2004
86 in 2005
85 in 2003, 07 & 15

April's - Low : 101, High : 114, Difference 13
114 in 2013
111 in 2003
108 in 2016
106 in 2015
105 in 2014
104 in 2006, 08, 12
102 in 2011
101 in 2007

May's - Low : 84, High : 103, Difference 19
103 in 2017
96 in 2012 & 2016
93 in 2011 & 08
92 in 2007, 2014 & 15
90 in 2003
88 in 2004, 06, 09 & 10
87 in 2013
84 in 2002 & 05

June's - Low : 76, High : 90, Difference 14
90 in 2016
89 in 2017
87 in 2010 & 2012
85 in 2006 & 13
82 in 2007 & 15
81 in 2004
80 in 2003 & 11
78 in 2005 & 08
77 in 2009

76 in 2002 & 14

July's - Low : 75, High : 94, Difference 19
94 in 2013
91 in 2015
90 in 2014
89 in 2006
88 in 2010 & 16
86 in 2011 & 12
83 in 2003, 04 & 07
82 in 2008
79 in 2001
78 in 2002

75 in 2005 & 09

August's - Low : 87, High : 103, Difference 16
103 in 2015
100 in 2016
99 in 2013
97 in 2014
93 in 2012
92 in 2011
89 in 2006
88 in 2009

87 in 2010

September's - Low : 74, High : 104, Difference 20
104 in 2012 & 2015
102 in 2016
97 in 2010
96 in 2014
95 in 2008  2011
92 in 2013
90 in 2009
83 in 2007
81 in 2006
75 in 2004

74 in 2005

October's - Low : 81, High : 99, Difference 18
99 in 2016
96 in 2015
93 in 2010 & 12
91 in 2011
90 in 2009
89 in 2014
88 in 2013
87 in 2007

81 in 2006

November's - Low : 78, High : 90, Difference 12
90 in 2011
86 in 2016
85 in 2015
84 in 2010 & 13
82 in 2014
81 in 2012
80 in 2009
79 in 2008

78 in 2007

December's - Low : 75, High : 87, Difference 13
87 in 2016
86 in 2010
84 in 2011
83 in 2009 & 15
81 in 2007 & 2006
80 in 2014
78 in 2004 & 2013
77 in 2005 & 2008

75 in 2012

Have we magically become better at finding more species, has the site become much better for a bigger range of species, is the coverage better?

For me it is more of the latter, but certainly that Lea Farm G.P. has had a very positive effect on both the coverage so it is more this than anything. But waders and a variety of other things do get seen more often than before the LFGP era, even if many of the species that drop in, are only doing so briefly.

I'll do the annual figures when I have more time, but I think it tells the same story.

Half way mark

As we approach the last week of June, we are nearly half way through the year, but much further into the expected total species list with 133 being seen so far.

The two months of the year to date

May
133 in 2017
132 in 2012
131 in 2003
129 in 2016
127 in 2008 & 02
125 in 2013 & 16
123 in 2011
122 in 2006 & 04

June
134 in 2012
133 in 2017
131 in 2003
129 in 2016
127 in 2001, 02 & 08
125 in 2013
124 in 2006 & 11
122 in 2004
121 in 2007
120 in 2010

By end of May we were 1 ahead of the best ever year total in 2012, with a week to go we might get lucky with a wildcard, perhaps an early Black-tailed Godwit, but to be honest I rarely expect a year tick in June.

The last two month totals

May
103 in 2017
96 in 2012 & 2016
93 in 2011 & 08
92 in 2007, 2014 & 15
90 in 2003
88 in 2004, 06, 09 & 10
87 in 2013
84 in 2002 & 05

Clearly May blew all previous Mays away.

June
90 in 2016
88 in 2017
87 in 2010 & 2012
85 in 2006 & 13
82 in 2007 & 15
81 in 2004
80 in 2003 & 11
78 in 2005 & 08
77 in 2009

76 in 2002 & 14

May still offers potential Little Grebe, which might be hiding at the balancing pool, or Mungell's Pond and could breed at either site. We have also had a few June records of Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gulls are appearing in Oxon, so one could fly over or rest for a while? Other possibles include a Peregrine, a Shelduck, there are even 3 historic records of June Black Tern and with the SW corner looking so good, it's not impossible to imagine an early Black-tailed Godwit dropping in.

Same again

Out extra early on Sunday morning, the 3 LRP were still present, a lone Oystercatcher flew in again, the female Shoveler materialised in the SW corner, I admired the Sand Martin young being fed in the wall. A Tufted female had 8 young swimming happily.

I was about to leave when the familiar Med Gull call came from the SW corner and was already there when I checked.

At BSL 2 juvenile Grey Wagtail played with my photography skills.

A break in services

After what feels like 10 weeks of constant 05:45 starts, I took a break, some of it driven by work, some because I felt like it. As it happens I've missed being out and generally woke around 06:30 and 04:00 a few times too.

I had forgotten my 07:00 bird walk on the 11th, which amounted to 2 Mistle Thrush which I guess either failed with a nesting attempt or were foo gathering? A Redshank, 2 LRP and a Barn Owl at LFGP.

Yesterday Richard had male Pochard, which occurs most years, but always nice in June.

Today a late start around 08:00, was very pleasant, 2 male Teal, a pair of Shoveler, 3 LRP, a Little Egret. Avery quick check back and I can only see years 2014, 2013 & 2007 where all 3 ducks were seen in June. Perhaps like 2014 & 2010, we might see Wigeon late in the month too?

Tons of Sand Martins feeding young and even adults mating, so it looks like we may have additional, or second broods coming up.

After a nice chat with Brian it was time for me to go, but it wasn't too long after Alan was sending a picture of a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull on Tern scrape, so I headed back quickly and caught a couple of nice'ish shots before it headed off toward Sandford around 11:09.

127 species marks my 8th highest year list, 2 more to match 2009.

Yesterday I had no choice but to go to Pagham to see my good friend AJ's Elegant Tern, it scared me a bit as it waited for over hours to show itself. I don't twitch for competition with others, but if you're curious my UK life list is 421.

Fat lady

I caught up with the Mandarin family near the green bridge this morning around 07:00 and hadn't been in Ron's hide for long when the 9 Lapwing I had just counted all went up, I scanned around for a Kite, or some other raptor, but suddenly noticed a plump woman on a bicycle tottering along the track near the East shore, heading left to right.

Shouting, but I couldn't be heard as she got the SE corner and I decided I'd head off to Lodge Road and see if she came back. After some time it was evident she either went into Chocoholics, or Lea Farm, or got out some other way.

I entered the landfill track which has no public access and walked up to the middle and highest point of the landfill, it was lovely, 3+ Skylark singing, a gentle breeze, totally sunny. Then a distant call met my ears, immediately my brain shouted 'Raven' but scanning to the North I couldn't get on anything. Again it called and into view came 1, followed by 3 more Raven, only one was calling and they appeared to come from West of Charvil, or Sonning Golf Club area, they kept going but not as if in a huge hurry. 1 came back was joined by another and they appeared to go East.

These awesome shots are from the phone, not thru the scope, so are of course not recognisable as Raven, more for me than others if you like.

This is my first June record of Raven and only the third ever, so 4 is a pretty nice record and certainly evidence of nearby breeding, but where exactly??

Radio silence

I have been busy, but carried on patching each morning until 3 days ago. The misty start of the 25th robbed me of the pair of May Pochard, which is very unusual.

The odd hour on the sunny days around 25th got me another Hobby, the 26th all was very quiet, just 17 non breeding Gadwall, 7+ pairs of Common Tern on the shingle island.

Then 27th I was at the shops when this year's 2nd Little Tern showed up, it hadn't been there at 06:30. There were several days of 1-3 Linnet in front of Ron't hide again, then on the 30th I caught sight of an Oystercatcher chick on Sandford....fingers crossed it makes it this time.