Skywatching from the obs

North east winds over the last two days producing not too much in the skies over Beddington. 1 Swallow, 3 Chaffinch and 1 Sand Martin were my lot. Single Willow Warbler and Blackcap in the obs garden. Hobby a couple of times over head.

Ducks flying between the lake and hundred acre include 3 Wigeon (bottom), 50+ Shoveler (top), 6 Gadwall and 50+ Teal (image 3). Green Sandpiper and Snipe over.

Good numbers of gulls- probably 1500-2000 Herring Gull, 40+ L.B.B Gull, 200 Black-headed Gull and 10+ Common Gull.

The Beddington Obs

View from my new apartment window- overlooking what hopefully will be the largest urban nature reserve in the UK- Beddington Farmlands.

There were a few passerine migrants on the farm today including Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear.

I had Chiffchaff from 'the obs', 20+ Swallow moving north (like they do for some reason in the autumn) and 8 Meadow Pipit going southeast.

An evening walk around the farm and there were 12+ Green Sandpiper, 9 Snipe, 80+ Teal, 50+ Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 40+ Lapwing, 34 Stock Dove, 10+ Greenfinch and a small tit flock.

Vagrants

Eastern Olivaceous in Cork. Citrine Wagtail on Scilly.

Wrynecks on Scilly and Cornwall. Bits and bobs elsewhere in the southwest and southern Ireland.

I missed something mind. Check out this jet stream map- high altitude winds are also bringing Nearctic waders in- Stilt Sand on the Isle of Man and also Nearctic waders on Scilly, the southwest and Ireland.

Also not quite right as there are also eastern scarce migrants scattered on the east coast- but the best stuff looks like it is in the Cornwall/southern Ireland vagrant zone.

High level and low winds- blowing in oppsite directions- waders coming in from the west at high altitude and passerines being carried on the southern flank of a high- got to look out for this one in the future.

A prophecy

This is a dangerous game.
I predict:
An influx of drift migrants (Wrynecks, Ortolans etc) and perhaps an eastern vagrant(?) on Scilly by Thursday. Maybe Cornwall and south/southeast Ireland with some drift migrants.

The rest of the country- no major concentrations.

We will see.

Beddington Farm and Canvey- September 6th

Started off at the farm this morning doing a guided bird tour. An influx of Shoveler with 40+ on the lake but an outflux of waders with only a couple of Green Sandpiper and 1 Greenshank. 3 Swift still. Very little in the way of overhead movement in the westerly air flow.

Went to Canvey in the afternoon with Simon- bit of a clear out there too. Not many waders- only 60+ Dunlin and 80+ Ringed Plover and not a lot of diversity either. Oystercatcher numbers were up with 700+. No Little Terns or Whimbrels- moved on.

Without an easterly airflow September can be more fairly quiet in these parts. Lots of the staging early autumn birds move out (Little Terns, Whimbrels, flocks of Common Terns, Med Gull flocks, Blackwits etc).

Two juvenile Gannets moving up river were the highlight of the day.

Carshalton Environmental Fair

Went on a reconnaisance mission to the Carshalton Environmental Fair to see what local groups might be interested in supporting the Beddington Farm campaign. Hopefully should be able to get this lot on board the idea of a premier urban nature reserve in their borough.

Interestingly there was a big music presence- mainly rock, folk and country music. Might have to try and get my band there next year.

You can hear and see some of our music and art here. It's all environmentally stuff:

http://www.myspace.com/theebryans1

Bird Fair and Thames Estuary Weekend

The Monarch of Birding- Killian Mullarney- at the British Birdwatching Fair.
More shots here:
http://peteralfrey.blogspot.com/

Ended the weekend in the Thames- Dunlin and Ringed Plover (top), juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and adult Knot (bottom).