Sept 11th always turns up something

For some reason we do tend to get a good bird on the 11th September....and 2012 is no exception, with PBT finding a Spotted Flycatcher on the island from Teal Hide, which I relocated along the Loddon path just 40 yards short of the green bridge. I left only to get a call from Trevor at 11:10 during my work conference call, that a juvenile Turnstone had just flown in at LFGP. I had no choice but to wait until the call finished at nearly 12:00, before I could leave and not before dropping my mums dog at the groomers and my mum home. Luckily it was still there on the Eastern lake edge. Only my third ever, but only the 10th ever and first in Sept, although 2 records do not appear in the Berks Bird Report, these were 2/14th May 1990 (LB) and 1/7th July 1991 (LB), if only we knew who LB was???

As it is such a local rarity I am posting 4 wonderfully aweful record shots.

Hobby everywhere

Even though it remains quiet, Hobby are showing well all at Sandford, Lavell's and LFGP, 2-3 birds probably more. Shoveler numbers keep growing, well above 40, but difficult to be exact in morning light conditions. 2 Green Sandpiper were flying around Sandford heading off towards LFGP, but not found subsequently. The Teal missing it's primaries continues to stay just in front of Ron's hide.

Much quieter

A quick look at LFGP 09:10 was quieter than recently, but as suspected the Garganey was still present, 44 or more Shoveler maintains a good autumn count, a few less Teal. As I scanned the vents for Wheatear and chats, I saw a lone bird perched high on a bush in the ditch, as I quickly upped the magnification, it suddenly flew South, so I never got a proper look, but it did look rather chat like.....oh well fingers crossed for next 2 weeks, same fingers crossed for Spotted Flycatcher any day now.

Another Redstart 5th

The annual Redstart migration continued yesterday with another male Redstart in the car park field. With an absence yesterday folks are wondering if it is the same male as the 3rd, but I think it was darker red on the undertail coverts, with maybe less white around the neck?

Male 5th Sept flying

Male 5th Sept

Male 3rd Sept

Redstarts and lots more

LFGP produced another Black Necked Grebe, a winter adult individual, so two records in one year after 12 years without one. A distant Wheatear on the vents to almost furthest vent to East, plus a mystery chat like bird to the far SE vent. Later a Redstart appeared in the car park field and may have been said mystery bird. Raptors overhead included Hobby, 5 Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. After I left a juvenile Cuckoo dropped in and perched for a while. We await a confirmed Whinchat and twitchable Spotted Flycatcher.

Few raptors

Despite being sunny for the last 3-4 days, I have noted how few passage and post breeding Buzzards are about compared similar times of year over the last 11 years. Over previous Augusts we have seen upto 10-14, but also as many in mid September, so maybe they are yet to come through?

Ducks and waders are moving

Missed BTB's earlier reported Spotted Flycatcher near the green bridge, but good duck numbers were present at LFGP, 45+ Teal, 39 Shoveler, probably more,which looks like the highest ever counts for both this early in the autumn. Also present was the immature female Garganey, Little Egret, Green & Common Sandpiper and lone Pied Wagtail on the shingle island. A Hobby was quartering near the green bridge. I left before the 2 Greenshank stopped briefly then headed on South, heard leaving by TAG