Saturday July 30th
With the good weather arriving as promised I was hoping for an early Whinchat or Wheatear in the Bay, the warm sunshine also promised a good Raptor, especially with last weeks Red Footed Falcon seen over the patch.
The raptor never materialized other than a very photographic Kestrel, in fact there were 3 of them, a family group. There was a flock of Starlings present feasting on the emerging flying Ants and also demolishing the blackberry bushes, how many, I would say around 1500, certainly a spectacular sight.
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Kestrel ( click on photos to enlarge ) |
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Part of the Starling flock |
There was also plenty of Butterflies and Dragons on the wing with many Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, Common Blues were also seen. Fresh Ruddy and Common Darters were also showing.
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The Black Tailed Godwits in the Bay, one being chased by an immature Gull |
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Curlew |
Best birds of the day go to 8 summer plumed Black Tailed Godwits and 4 Curlew feeding in the Bay, I managed to get some photos of these before they departed, all were feeding up.
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3 of the 4 Curlew |
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Going north overland |
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Black Tailed Godwits |
Eventually the 8 Black Tailed went back down river and the Curlews flew over my head going inland northwards, unusual. Also feeding on the mud was a single Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers and 9 Common Sandpipers.
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