Tuesday 19 March 2019

Not the migrants we are looking for

 The closest I got to a summer migrant today at the farmlands was this 'White Wagtail'. With reference to Peter Adriaens and co's article in Dutch Birding 32:4 HERE the flanks look like a score of 1 and the grey on the mantle appears to about Kodak Grey scale value of 10 which are good for White Wagtail but I didn't see the clinching grey rump (the rump patch between the two shortest tertials should be grey, not black) or the pattern of the outer tail feather so its going down as a presumed White Wagtail. 
A Rook on the move, circling at height. There were also quite a few Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls going over (or on the lake) today. Also 8 Common Buzzards throughout the day. 
 This male summer Brambling flew over south east corner. Also had a handful of Chaffinch and Meadow Pipit going over. There were 2 Fieldfare on the mound and a Redwing by the hide. 
 This Chiffchaff in the south east has been present for several weeks. Also 4 Green Sandpipers in south east. 
 Still 10 Water Pipits about , some getting into summer plumage but I could only get a poor photo of this largely winter plumaged bird. Also had singing Meadow Pipit on the mound (be great if these return as a breeding bird- the habitat is looking good enough) and also a Skylark up there. Had a good chat with Pete Walker (the Viridor aftercare manager) today and it all really does sound very positive at the moment with loads of activity on the restoration. I'm almost tempted to hold my breath (although got a direct action meeting tonight with Extinction Rebellion Group- now things are improving round here , there's going to be a lot to discuss tonight and what the best way forward is- we might not have to resort to final measures) 
 This large gull has been around a while. I identified it as a hybrid Herring x Lesser Black-backed but today it flashed its primary tips which seemed to show quite a bit of white so I was wondering whether it might be an adult summer Northern Herring Gull (argentatus). I wouldn't mind getting a photo of the open wing.
Lapwing have taken up territory on 100 acre and south east corner now. Incredibly we still have at least 10 breeding pairs (in the 'middle' of London) but the clock is ticking for a long term management conservation management plan for them as Thames Water have decommissioned this area from water treatment so without active management the vast area of wetland will dry out- its a priority at the moment to get this long term management plan set up

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