Painted Lady
What a beaut of a day. With clear skies and light winds, the sun felt warm and it was great to be out and about. The same routine as yesterday heading over to the Marshes first that was generally quiet with three Sand Martin overhead, a couple of singing Blackcap, the Cetti's Warbler this time calling from the scrub near the boardwalk, and a couple of Shelduck on the relief channel.
Heading onto Lockwood, I met up with Graham and Adam, the three of us primed to pick up a decent migrant. The weather however was just too good - clear skies, light winds, and no visible sign of migration apart from a dozen Meadow Pipit flying through.
On the northside of Lockwood, a lone female Northern Wheatear sat in the long grass before flying onto the west bank. The Scaup pairing remained and showed really well reasonably close in to the east side. A single Common Buzzard drifted west and a surprise female Goldeneye flew toward the north end.
Heading onto High Maynard, the highlight of my day was a pristine Painted Lady that paused on the grassy bank allowing great views of this stunning migrant butterfly. I was again a little surprised to see this so early in Spring.
Also there were 15 Teal tucked into the island, a high Common Buzzard cruised toward the west, and a Common Sandpiper was present along the margins.
We all then made our way to East Warwick where three Common Snipe were picked up feeding on the shallow pool within the main island. Eight Shoveler was a nice find on the water, and a single Sand Martin flew through. A 2nd year Greater Black Backed Gull flew in and settled on one of the jetties.
Heading back, there was a count of at least 15 Gadwall and 18 Shelduck on No.2.
Heading onto Lockwood, I met up with Graham and Adam, the three of us primed to pick up a decent migrant. The weather however was just too good - clear skies, light winds, and no visible sign of migration apart from a dozen Meadow Pipit flying through.
On the northside of Lockwood, a lone female Northern Wheatear sat in the long grass before flying onto the west bank. The Scaup pairing remained and showed really well reasonably close in to the east side. A single Common Buzzard drifted west and a surprise female Goldeneye flew toward the north end.
Heading onto High Maynard, the highlight of my day was a pristine Painted Lady that paused on the grassy bank allowing great views of this stunning migrant butterfly. I was again a little surprised to see this so early in Spring.
We all then made our way to East Warwick where three Common Snipe were picked up feeding on the shallow pool within the main island. Eight Shoveler was a nice find on the water, and a single Sand Martin flew through. A 2nd year Greater Black Backed Gull flew in and settled on one of the jetties.
Heading back, there was a count of at least 15 Gadwall and 18 Shelduck on No.2.
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