Feeling rather static in mostly clear conditions over the last ten days. The standout sighting was a Whimbrel that pitched down briefly ahead of a rain shower - it was there for only 40 minutes before being flushed, which is a real problem with the floods being so small. There have been a trickle of other waders through (mostly Little Ringed Plovers), but wagtails are still at an all time low, with only a couple of single Yellow Wagtails recorded. I think this may be linked to the fact that the cattle herd are not on the main meadow this year, which is usually where the wagtails like to congregate. No Redstarts yet either despite a lot of looking in Burgess Field!
The first Common Tern arrived on 15th April and birds have been seen sporadically along the river since. Black-headed Gulls are now more obviously moving through (including a high proportion of immature birds) so everything crossed for something rarer amongst them.
Of interest has been the continued presence of up to three moulting Goosander along the river. It seems likely that they are set to summer here, as they did last year - hopefully they will breed again.
12/04/2026
Whimbrel briefly then flew north (year tick), Little Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatcher, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sand Martin, 30 House martin, 10 Swallow, Willow Warbler, 7 Shelduck, 2 Great White Egret
13/04/2026
4 Oystercatcher, Snipe, 4 Shelduck
14/04/2026
Little Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatcher, Goosander (late record, possibly breeding), 5 Shelduck
15/04/2026
Common Tern (year tick), 2 Oystercatcher, Yellow Wagtail, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Goosander, 11 Shelduck, Great White Egret
16/04/2026
Little Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatcher, 8 Shelduck, Great White Egret
17/04/2026
Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper (year tick), 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Goosander, 7 Shelduck
18/04/2026
Common Tern, Curlew, 3 Oystercatcher, 4 Shelduck
19/04/2026
Wheatear, Common Tern, 4 Shelduck
20/04/2026
3 Oystercatcher, Garden Warbler (year tick), 7 Shelduck
21/04/2026
Common Tern, Little Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher, Yellow Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, 7 Shelduck
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| Jay in Burgess Field |
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