The outlook for the day was pretty grim but it was very mild 13c with showers and gusty SW winds! This was not a day to be sat indoors although I questioned my sanity several times during the day!
The Water Meadows had an unusual number of Little Egret on it which had me checking them and low and behold one was a Cattle Egret! I phoned Hugo and during the conversation the egrets took flight! Nooo! With phone in one hand and camera in the other I rattled off some shots before the bird disappeared W over Puddletown!
The day continued in the same vein which had pushed a handful of Sand Martin down over one of the ponds. I continued with my rounds hoping there would be something else to add to the days tally. As I was driving down the track to park at the barns at Waterbarn Cottages a Red Kite stooped into view. The bird was low attempting to negotiate the heavy rain. I abandoned the car a little too sharpish! I then ran up the hill attempting to get some pictures of the bird. The results were disastrous fortunately this species is more regular these days and thankfully it was not something rare!!
This gave me a lift in spirits and off I went having parked the car properly this time! I made my way up onto the ridge searching the hedgerow and fields for any downed migrants. The ridge gives an amazing view of course of the Devil’s Brook! I noted there were more Egrets at the north end. The final total was eleven with yes you’ve guessed it TWO Cattle Egret. Having just checked my pictures!
I was straight onto the Hugo hotline and he made haste and picked me up in his jeep so we could get a better vantage point from further along the ridge! This was both our second sighting of this species on the farm and he confirmed this was the third record in total!
Having now reviewed all my pictures from yesterday I have noticed there were THREE Cattle Egret that took flight at Puddletown Water Meadows in the morning!
Not a bad end to the day!
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