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Sunday 31 July 2011

Barking Bay

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.



Kestrel ( click on photos to enlarge )


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.



The Black Tailed Godwits in the Bay, one being chased by an immature Gull

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.


3 of the 4 Curlew

Going north overland

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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