Sunday July 10

Mostly cloudy with a fresh south-westerly breeze, but also quite warm.

At last, some bird migration to report. Dave and I had reached the Chat Field, and he was scanning across it when he noticed a potential Stonechat. Any Chat in the field seemed unexpected in July so I got the scope up and was able to see that it was actually an adult male Whinchat, and a bit of a stonker at that. Some stalking was required to get an acceptable image of it.

The Whinchat

I would have been reasonably happy if that had been our only good find of the morning, but no, year-ticks were lining themselves up at the Flash field.

At least one Little Grebe was showing on the pool, but much more interesting was the sight of a muddy edge around the nearest flash. I quickly spotted a Greenshank wading through the shallow water, and we were later to find that two were present. Unfortunately they never approached one another, so I can only depict this first bird.

Greenshank

Also present were six Green Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover, three Teal, and a Common Sandpiper, which was another year-tick. It remained on the shore at the back of the flash, so only a terrible record shot was possible.

Common Sandpiper

We continued along the hedge, and just beyond the Kingfisher Pool we flushed a flock of Ravens off what turned out to be the carcass of a sheep. They quickly scattered, and we eventually counted 11 individuals, which I would imagine was made up of two family groups. This beats my previous record count, which was on the same date in 2011, by one.

Raven

Scanning to the west we picked up a Buzzard carrying prey, which appeared to be a Crow. Proof, if it were needed, of another successful Buzzard's nest.

Buzzard carrying a Crow

Finally, the Ravens flew up in the distance before heading back to their lunch.

Only 10 Ravens in this shot!

So I have managed to go a whole visit without mentioning insects. Well ok I did see a Comma butterfly, which I think was a first for the year.