Monday August 31

After a day of steady rain during which time no birding had taken place, I was starting to get twitchy by late afternoon. Surely the rain would have knocked something from the skies and into Morton Bagot.

So off I trotted for a quick look.

Normally at this point I report that nothing had turned up. Nothing had turned up. But, it wasn't boring. The Black-tailed Godwit which I claimed to have flown off yesterday was actually still here and showing well on the nearest flash.

Black-tailed Godwit - juvenile

Other than that it was pretty much the usual stuff, five Green Sandpipers, 35 Teal, 14 Snipe, and lots of hirundines. Counting the latter is extremely difficult, but the wires at Church Farm definitely contained 45 House Martins and 21 Swallows before they all flew off. The problem was that the melee over the flash field contained well over 100 birds, and at least one Sand Martin.

A tit flock by the footpath gate at the flash was very entertaining, but the only migrants within it were Chiffchaffs.

Thus ended a rather good bank holiday weekend.

Sunday August 30

A cloudy morning, with a few light showers and a very light north-easterly breeze. Today would turn out to be an excellent one for unexpected visitors.

Things began quietly. A few Siskins called from above the copse at Netherstead, but the excitement started when I got to the field behind the main pool. There were lots of finches and buntings in the hedge and the adjacent wild plant strips. From out of one of these a large bunting took flight, brown rump, no white in the tail, it all added up to a Corn Bunting. This was the fourth record for the site, and the first at this time of year (they have previously been seen in winter or early spring).

The bird flew to the hedgerow where I managed some record shots.

Corn Bunting

When it flew again I could hear its call, a very quiet tic tic, as further confirmation of the record. Later, I flushed it in the field, where it's large size was well demonstrated as it flew with equally large  Skylarks.

The hedgerow also contained a Meadow Pipit, probably the same one as the bird on Friday. A better opportunity to get a decent shot of it though.

Meadow Pipit

Scanning the field I noticed four Whinchats perched up.

One of the Whinchats

I finally got to the flashes, and counted the usual Green Sandpipers, Teal, and Snipe. After a short excursion down the hedge following a party of tits and Chiffchaffs, I returned and discovered a large wader standing in the furthest flash. Grabbing the scope I confirmed it was a juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, I just had time to line it up for a record shot when it took off.

That was close!

I never saw it again, so it must have resumed its migration.

So two year-ticks today. I also counted 11 Whitethroats, 10 Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 50 Greenfinches, 50 Goldfinches, 12 Reed Buntings, eight Yellowhammers, and four Linnets.

Friday August 28

A sunny morning with a slightly too strong south-westerly breeze, and a couple of light showers.

I took the village route, noting a few Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats, and a Blackcap before heading down to the pool. Here a pipit appeared, and flew into the same tree as was occupied by the Tree Pipit a week last Tuesday. Unlike that bird it perched among the willow leaves, and seemed unwilling to settle. It never really looked like a Tree Pipit, but I took some record shots anyway.

Meadow Pipit

It was indeed the first Meadow Pipit of the autumn, a fact further confirmed when it flew off calling.

I continued to the flashes and quickly established that the Common Sandpiper had gone. Instead, I counted 32 Teal, seven Green Sandpipers, nine Snipe, and 26 Lapwings.

The stroll back produced a calling Kingfisher, which I failed to see, and few other birds of note. There was at least a slightly worn Brown Argus to look at.

Thursday August 27

Having changed my mind (never change your mind) about whether to visit the patch today, I was sitting at home watching the athletics when I received two texts from Matt Willmott.

He reported the following at Morton Bagot; 29 Teal, 5 Green Sands, one Common Sand, one Redstart, 25 Lapwings, one Kingfisher, and four Spotted Flycatchers.

Can you guess which of these had me dropping everything and dashing to the patch?

Strange to tell it was the Common Sandpiper. Each year I just sneak one amongst the Green Sandpipers, but they usually either turn up in spring, or between July and the middle of August. I had started to believe I was going to miss out this year.

I arrived to find Matt still present, and able to confirm it was still there.

Common Sandpiper

After taking a couple of quick record shots and a natter with Matt, I was back in time to see Christine Ohuruogu in the 400 metres final. A shame she came last.

Tuesday August 25

Something rare this evening. No photographs. My visit to the patch did produce some birds, but they had a rather familiar ring to them. 57 Lapwings, 10 Green Sandpipers, five Snipe. There was a small increase in Teal, now 22 present.

As I strolled back, feeling slightly glum I must admit, a notable bird flew towards me, then swung round and retreated to the pylons. Only my second Peregrine here this year, the last being on 8 March. I strode towards it, and after 50 yards checked it was still there. It was. Probably a juvenile.   Out came the camera. Now which section of the pylon was it on? Still there. Focus the camera and...oh. It had gone.

Morton Bagot just hasn't read the script this year.

Sunday 23 August

A terrific date, perfect weather (light south-easterly after overnight rain), surely I couldn't fail this morning.

Well I'll say this. I tried my best. I began at Netherstead, recording fly-over Siskin(s) on call, and seeing a Swift circling with the House Martin flock. A Spotted Flycatcher appeared briefly in the copse. Note that word, briefly, it was to become something of a theme.

Continuing towards the pool I saw and heard (singing) two Willow Warblers, and several other warblers before scoping a distant (another word to note) Whinchat. Onwards to the Flashes. Here the Greenshank had evidently gone and I eventually counted 12 Green Sandpipers, 10 Snipe, 57 Lapwings and 15 Teal. I remained here longer than usual. A large bird of prey headed distantly south over Bannams Wood, the wings were held slightly droopily, and it was moving fast in the way that Buzzards don't. I got it in the scope as it briefly circled, but could make out no features at all. The fanned tail was possibly a fraction long, but the head extension looked Buzzard-like, and as it circled the wings went briefly into a shallow V. So distant and brief and probably not a Honey Buzzard. Probably.

Along the hedge behind me, distantly, several Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, and Whitethroat excitedly chased insects. After watching for several minutes I had a brief (there's that word again) view of a Redstart with them.

I decided I should get sketching, but then realised I had left my sketch book at home. Today was starting to fall apart. As I wandered back, the distant cloud started to get closer and darker, and it occurred to me I hadn't even got my camera out of my bag. Back at the car, I still hadn't got a shot of anything.

I decided to check out Church Farm with a view to finding something to photograph. As I wandered around, a Yellow Wagtail flew over, calling. Great, they are scarce in autumn (and in spring come to think of it). I headed in the direction it had flown, but there was no sign. So I decided to  take my scope to the agricultural machinery yard from where I could scan the furthest flash. I returned my camera to the car. Mistake. Running around on the muddy clinker was the Yellow Wagtail, a juvenile with barely any yellow in its plumage. I dashed back for the camera, but returned to find the bird was gone.

It was just one of those days. Token rubbish photo of Swallows on wires coming up.

Also today, England lost the test match, and West Brom lost to Chelsea.

Saturday August 22

Not birding today, but a bird found me.

A single Crossbill flew over our garden in Winyates East this afternoon. Only heard unfortunately.