Beddington Farmlands- Swift Storm!

The north east winds and rain swung round to a southerly last night. I arrived back in Hackbridge at about 2200 and I had Greenshank and Little Rings calling from the obs. The noc mig recordings picked up 2 Ringed Plover and LRP and Greenshanks calling through the night.  This morning it was evident there had been a small fall/ influx with 2 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 LRP, 4 Common Sandpiper, the resident Lapwings and 1 Green Sandpiper but most impressive was a huge influx of 200+ Common Swift. Also good numbers of warblers around including 4 Lesser Whitethroats and 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Whinchat and also 4 unseasonal Pochards. In the seasonal change of the guard, today was the first day this year that Teal has not been recorded and only 1 Shoveler left. I recorded 72 species today Ebird list here. 

 Common Sandpiper 

 Dunlin 

 Raven (above and below). This moulting bird (missing inner primaries) has been around for most of this year although is an occasional visitor and hasn't been seen in a few days. A moulting bird this time of year is presumably a non-breeding/second-calender year bird. 

 Young birds have begun to appear, Mallard chicks, Moorhens, Coots and also this very early Pied Wagtail. 

Doesn't really do it justice but an impression of the 200+ Swifts which were mainly concentrated over 100 acre. There's not many summer migrants that arrive in flocks of 200+.  

Greenshank and LRP calling from the obs last night. Sound file on Ebird here. Also noc-mig Ringed Plover recordings on link. 

 Ringed Plover calling at night (above) and Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover (below) calling together at dawn (recordings here)