With the breeding season now winding down, I've decided to abandon my Circle wandering for the next four months to concentrate on watery habitats in the hope of some passage waders.
I was at Morton Bagot at 04:45 this morning, mainly to try to avoid the heatwave. I also had Water Rail on my mind, hoping for a second appearance and maybe some chicks. Well dream on, there was no sign of the Rail.
On the positive side the nearest flash looks decent again, and I counted eight Green Sandpipers, three Lapwings and an adult Little Ringed Plover. These are three of the four baseline waders here (the other being Snipe), anything else would be a win. At least Green Sandpiper numbers have doubled since Sunday.
There is much to be said for getting out early. The passerines in the hedgerows seemed to be in abundance and included a very brief Grasshopper Warbler, while the meadows were full of Knapweed in full bloom and many other flowering plants which I struggle to name. This morning I used my app to identify Lady's Bedstraw, though I've probably seen it here before.
I arrived home just after 07.05 and got a Whatsapp message that there were three Great White Egrets at Earlswood. John Oates had found them, so after checking Lyn was still fast asleep I jumped back in the car. Half way there I learned that they had flown off (and later turned up at Marsh Lane GP) so I returned home.
One final footnote; yesterday I had another go with some of John's Clearwing lures in the garden. Currant Clearwing appears to be absent, but I was successful in attracting a Lunar Hornet Moth and even managed to photograph it out of the pot before it flew off.
A very impressive wasp-mimic.
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