Willow Warblers



I didn't bother with The Patch this morning as judging by the car park the beach would be smothered in fishermen. First look at the Lighthouse Garden revealed it to be virtually bird less, so was taken aback on arrival at the obs to be told of 30+ Willow warblers and a Pied Flycatcher in The Moat.

A walk around The Moat found easily 30 Willow Warblers but the Pied Flycatcher had gone missing.

A check around Lloyds, West Beach, The Lighthouse and the station found another 6. A wander around The Desert, the high gorse and the south edge of the trapping area found at least another 32 with 8 Common Whitethroats. 



 Moving on to the ARC where most the waders had gone leaving just 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 6 Golden Plover. The Willow trail held another 4 Willow Warblers and another 12 on the track to and around the pines. From the pines I saw a Honey Buzzard flying north over Boulderwall presumably the same bird seen over Burrowes and from the screen 2+ Garganey and 2 Marsh Harriers. 

 A very hot plod from the ARC car park to Springfield Bridge found c10 Tree Sparrows at Boulderwall with another 5 at Hookers, still plenty of Reed and sedge warblers in the ditches and bushes also a few more Willow Warblers. A few Cetti's Warblers are still making themselves heard around the reserve. At the viewing ramp 4 Bearded Tits and 4 Marsh Harriers and 3 Swifts with the increasing numbers of Swallows. On Dengemarsh the Great white Egret showed well then flew to north end of the marsh. Wandering back 6+ Yellow wagtails flew over and a party of c50 Golden Plover.