Sunday 14th April

This weekend was one of interesting contrasts. On Saturday in rather grey and drizzly weather I went for a visit at last orders where I found not many birds at all. The waders were in a small group feeding along the west shore and comprised a BAR-TAILED GODWIT, 5 REDSHANK, and 1 DUNLIN. In the gloom I did manage to spot my first YELLOW WAGTAIL of the year hanging out with a couple of Pieds and the two every-present SHELDUCK were still about.

By Sunday however things had picked up considerably and the combined efforts of Sydney Penner, Richard Foster and Liam Langley managed to find the following birds:
 
2 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher
2 Dunlin
7 Ringed Plover
2 Little Ringed Plover
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
6 Redshank
1 Common Tern
1 Sand Martin
2 House Martins
10+ Swallow
2 Chiffchaff
175 Golden Plover
1 Wheatear

The Tern, the House Martins and the Wheatears are all year ticks. It's all hotting up nicely now!

Bar-tailed Godwit (actually taken at Farmoor) (c) Roger Wyatt