I'm All Twite Jack

As I've been preparing for the down fall of Capitalism for the last five years, I didn't need to spend the day panic buying (as I've been panicing for half a decade and had two months supplies in my 'doomsday cupboard' already) so I joined up with Kojak and went birding at Beddington Farmlands. A pretty epic day really Ebird list HERE. Highlight was of course a beautiful couple of Twite, one appreciably paler and less well marked than the other. The close views and ability to appreciate the subtle differences on these two individuals and the subtle hues, tones and markings that define this species was quite frankly, beautiful. This is only the third record for Beddington, following the rather famous ringed bird in 2017 see here. Ed Stubbs informs me that this is the first multiple birds in Surrey since 1986 and the 23rd county record since 1900. 

Also had my first summer migrants of the year, a male Wheatear and 2 Sand Martins. Also 5 Water Pipit, 6 Green Sandpiper, a flock of 12 migrating Common Gull, a light passage of 25+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Peregrine, 4 Common Buzzard, 3 Sparrowhawk and a very interesting hybrid aythya duck- a Redheadish look alike- presumably a hybrid Tufted x Pochard but one where Pochard is coming through more than Tufted Duck which is unusual.

Partner in crime Kojak's account here. We are doing alright this year locally, on the last three days out together we've found Raven, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff and now 2 Twite. 

In the moth trap last night- Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Early Grey, Beautiful Plume, Agonopterix alstromeriana (5) and butterflies on the wing today included Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. 

 Twites

 Northern Wheatear

 Sand Martin

 Water Pipit - about 7 birds about. 

 Lapwing- great to see the birds taking up territories in south east corner (not so great to think that this habitat will be gone over the next few years and we could loose our Lapwing population) 

 Migrating Black-headed Gulls (above) and Common Gulls (below) 

Aythya hybrid, presumed Pochard x Tufted Duck