I decided to spend an hour or so having a wander around in pleasant conditions this morning. The undoubted highlight was finding 2 Pintail (123) on the reservoir which is a new bird for the patch. I have hoped this species would be seen over the years but the addition of some more water has helped pull in a few more duck species this year. This also brings my patch list up to 160 species. Also seen were 2 Mute Swan, 9 Egyptian Geese, 2 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 9 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Moorhen, 7 Stock Dove, c300 Black headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Common Gull, c200 Herring Gull, 6 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel. There were 2 Jay, c80 Rook, 8 Skylark, 1 Treecreeper, c225 Starling, 1 Stonechat, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit and 13 Chaffinch. 

Pintail

The nocmig recorder has been out on a few nights this week on Chislet Marshes where the highlight was a Ringed Plover (121) which was heard early on the 22nd. A Ringed Plover was also heard a few minutes before I collected the recorder this morning. Also recorded this week have been Tawny Owl, Barn Owl and Little Owl which have also been heard most mornings when I'm collecting the recorder as well as Grey Partridge. I spent about 45 minutes looking out on the marsh Tuesday night from 6pm where I noted 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Hobby, c100 Greylag Geese, 2 Snipe, 7 Mallard, 2 Grey Partridge, 7 Cormorant and c150 distant hirundines flying north. The highlight however, has to go to the Lapland Bunting (122) found by Matt Hindle on Wednesday late afternoon out on the marsh. I did spend an hour looking in the area but unfortunately could not re-locate it at all. 

Ringed Plover

A few nights of nocmig recording this week have produced 3 Tawny Owl, 1 Little Owl, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Grey Heron, a few Gadwall calls, 1 Oystercatcher and a Sandwich Tern was heard Tuesday night, a very scarce bird to get here. Putting the recorder out during the evenings has produced 3 Grey Partridge, 1 Grey Heron and 21 Greylag Geese.

Sandwich Tern