I joined forces with Peter Alfrey this morning and a blitz
on Beddington Farmlands was the order of the day. The day progressed with a
group of migrating Common Gull on the North Lake and a movement of Meadow Pipit
in a general NW direction. We managed to dodge a Wheatear on the NE corner of
the lake.
We were returning to look for the Wheatear when Pinpoint
noticed two birds on top of the mound feeding by some piping on the E side of the North Lake. “Koje don’t move” I froze and looked at
the birds crickey two dark heavily striped passerines with yellow bills. The
silence was broken by the rattle of cameras shutters and after a burst of action
the Twite was documented!
One bird was
considerably darker than the other both showing varying amounts of the pink
rump as they flicked their wings. Both continued feeding at close quarters to
us seemingly untroubled by our presence. Wow these moments were truly amazing!
A couple of Sand Martin passed overhead during our vigil.
Pete circulated the news but due to their location there was little chance of
the birds being twitched.
A hybrid Pochard x Tufted Duck(?)was seen on the North Lake
earlier in the day.
A Little egret was seen in the channel between the North
Lake and proposed area of wet grassland.
The Wheatear was eventually found which was good timing, as
I had to leave Pete who was clearly up for finding more migrants. 58 species
were recorded during the four mile and six hour session.
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