The Beast Delivers

What a day! Story from Kojak HERE .

Close of play scores were:

Hard weather Migrants:

1 ad Kittiwake, 1 Avocet, 1 Red Knot, 1-2 Ruff, 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plover,  3 Dunlin, 2 Woodcock, 30+ Snipe, 3 Jack Snipe, 350+ Lapwing, 13 Golden Plover, 15 Pintail (7+8), 3 Wigeon, 1 Great Crested Grebe over, 1 Stonechat, 150+ Fieldfare, 30+ Redwing,  3 Skylark, 70+ Meadow Pipit

Usual:

 75 Teal, 30+ Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Shelduck, 3 Little Grebe, , 20 Stock Dove, 1 Dartford Warbler, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, (Barn Owl last night hunting along the railway), 1 Water Rail, 3 Reed Bunting 

Absolutely brilliant views of migrants more or less running around at our feet. Golden Plovers, Ruff, Lapwings and Thrushes down to 2 meters. Interestingly many migrants were decked today and were trying to either keep out the wind or trying to find food in areas of unfrozen water and where the work men were digging today exposing fresh soil. 

 Avocet on the South Lake (above and below) 

 Red Knot flying south over the North Lake (above and below) 

 Ruff- at least one very mobile bird today or two around (above and below) 

 2 Grey Plovers over today (bird 1 above and bird 2 below) 

 Stunning views of Golden Plover with at least 6 on the deck and 7 over (following the Barwits).This bird is beginning to moult into summer plumage . Two birds were present on the permitted footpath along the section where the workmen have recently removed a fence exposing fresh soil. 

 Golden Plover (above and below) 

 The hard weather dynamic duo- Lapwing and Golden Plover 

 Stunning views of Lapwing today as they fed amongst the diggers and were hiding behind tussocks to keep out the wind 

 Lapwings were on the move from about 0800 till 1100 this morning- approx 350+ in total 

 A small group of Lapwing were hiding behind the wall of the effluent canal 

 The most unusual record today were these 19 Bar-tailed Godwits flying southwest . 20 were reported over Rye Meads RSPB in the morning and these went over early afternoon- so were presumably the same birds

 This Black-tailed Godwit flew low over the North Lake and headed South (most birds were heading south and southwest today) 

 At least 3 Jack Snipes about. No hard weather spell would be complete without Jack Snipe. Noteable absentees today included Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Curlew and Yellowhammer. 

 Odd ball of the day goes to this high flying Great Crested Grebe

 Two flocks of Pintail over this afternoon 

 Stunning views of Fieldfare (above) and Redwing (below) 

 The first Stonechat in several weeks 

 70+ Meadow Pipits today 

 The usual Kestrel by the hide performing like a pro in the harsh east wind

Siberian Beddington!

We did do all we could to help these birds today by putting seed out at two stations at the farmlands and a major feeding station at the obs garden. Also the best thing we do to help our local birds in times of hardship and all year round is campaign for a major urban nature reserve with decent habitats. If you haven't already please sign the petition: HERE now approaching 5000 supporters.