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Wednesday 25 August 2010

Ingrebourne Valley August 25th

No work, so decided to have a look at the patch in the morning knowing that rain was earmarked for around mid day.With the recent bad weather,  was also hoping that the River Ingrebourne had not burst its banks and flooded all the viewing area.Lots of exposed mud with up to 7 Green Sandpipers pretty regular, last week Dick Jeffries had a Wood Sandpiper briefly.
On arrival at the viewing area, the whole lot was under water, that was my rare wader up the swanny for another year. Green  and a Common Sandpiper on a rock present along with single Shoveler, 4 Gadwall and 17 Teal.


Viewing area

Pressed on with a mind to check the 2 horse paddocks out, in particular the top paddock, every year it seems to produce Whinchat and Wheatear regular.Also had one eye in the sky for a raptor as it was hazy sunshine with little wind, not like Tuesdays blow out.Picked up some summer migrants en route to the 1st paddock with Common and Lesser Whitethroat seen along with 2 Reed Warblers.1st paddock produced very little but the 2nd came up trumps.
Located 2 Wheatear and 3 Whinchat on the fence line, Whinchat bring my patch total to 118 for the year, now only one off my highest total.Overhead hawking were an estimated 60 House Martins, very likely most are from St.Georges Hospital where they breed, it is a very large colony.

Whinchat

Wheatear

All the time I was watching the Whinchats and Wheatears I could hear Yellow Wagtails calling, I have always found it hard to pick them up in the sky when they are calling, these though were centred on the ground around a couple of horses.
Located a small group of 6 working a horse, all of them stayed near the head as it fed and were snapping up insects as good as any flycatcher.

6 Yellow Wagtails working a horse

Was on a bit of a tight schedule so made tracks back towards the viewing area, was rewarded with a nice lowish Kestrel and then got on to a Common Buzzard coming in from the east, a very nice bonus.
To top the morning off I had a very high Hobby going south on set wings, looked like it was on its way, hopefully this weekend will provide some good vis miging weather.

Kestrel

Common Buzzard

Very high Hobby

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