Cresswell Pond this morning was fairly quiet,with wader passage diminishing now. 22 Redshank flew in to land,with 7 Snipe. 3 Ruff and a handful of Dunlin fed on the mud in front of the hide. The now “resident” Little Egret scurried after prey items in the shallows. In the bushes near the farm, a family party of Stonechats- a pair with 3 young- searched the ground for food before dropping down repeatedly,one juvenile even hopping on the ground near my feet. They made their way to the main roadside,where they were joined by a passage Whinchat. 3 Yellow Wagtails noted,calling and one Grey Wagtail.
At Druridge Pools, a Ruff dropped in in front of the main hide,and a pair of Sand Martins flew south,a few more seen later at East Chevington. A single juvenile Black tailed Godwit fed near the Budge Hide,where a juvenile Whitethroat and several Willow/ Chiffs seen and heard. A group of Swallows hawked above and a Kestrel noted. A few Skylarks noted and one even began singing briefly.
At Widdrington, a Peregrine flew west and another Kestrel seen hovering. 35-40 Swallows gathered,calling and singing on wires here.
East Chevington, and another pair of confiding Stonechats seen . Around 50 Swallows migrated south,heading along the dunes as did several dozen Meadow Pipits. A flock of around 300 Lapwings rested in front of the south hide. A few Reed buntings and Whitethroats in the bushes.A flock of 11 Grey Herons,disturbed by tractors flew together to land at the south pool. A distant Buzzard over the woods to the north.
Up to Hauxley next,where a good count of 89 Gadwall was made with 31 Wigeon. 58 Lapwings and 22 Curlews here too.
Back down at Cresswell village, the House Martin colony still has young birds in the nests (17 nests counted).25-30 birds in the air.
At St Mary’s yesterday – 12th- passage groups of Tree Sparrows numbering 14, 11 and 5 flew south,as did single Yellow and Grey Wagtails. 136 Sanderling were counted on the beach,including 19 juveniles. A female Stonechat and a juvenile Whinchat were on fence posts to the west and a Kestrel once again present in the area.The large Linnet flock remains,with c350 seen today. (A Kingfisher was reported on the Island ( T. Dalgleish.) ). The Golden Plover flock significantly increased this week, now as they all took to the air together, estimated at around 1,500 birds- a fine sight. This number may double by mid- winter.An adult and juvenile Sandwich Tern flew south together.
A.S. Jack