randombirder

The whiskered tern was present on a dull and dreary morning at Longham Lakes that felt more like February than May.  The assemblage of species overwhelmingly suggested otherwise.  The lake was teeming with hirundines and swift , a cuckoo was calling from woodland on the west side and reed warbler were scratching away from the phragmites.  There was a noticeable increase in house martin today. The tern was the only individual of this taxon present on the lake. It would rest on the buoys for a while then head off on feeding sorties - typically elegant in flight swooping low to the surface of the water feeding on insects. From here I headed down to Portland which was very quiet.  The afternoon sun felt amazing as the winds were light and the views as always are lovely. Bits and pieces picked up during the afternoon were 11 kittiwake amongst large numbers of gull feeding close inshore, A hobby flew past the bill, three wheatear along the east cliffs, a little owl...

A really productive day despite the Phalarope's short stay at the reservoir on Friday.  A particularly spirited arrival on site where the morning sun blazed across the open water. An initial count of 17 Black Tern then turned into 21.  By late morning more had arrived increasing to 31.  By midday this had risen again to 36 birds, frequently seen clustered together in a group as they rose up from the water only to return back down to continue their elegant undulating flight across the water. Black Tern Seven Common Swift were wheeling over the south basin with reasonable numbers of House Martin . A winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe drifted across the north basin.  There were five Common Sandpiper hugging the margins. An adult winter Sandwich Tern flew low over the causeway and continued on north.  Ten minutes later, two Turnstone flew a circuit around the reservoir and again failed to settle. A Hobby was seen flying slowly th...

A mild breeze swept through the reservoirs under leaden grey skies.  There was barely a soul around as I made my way along the causeway. The highlight was a way overdue London first, a roosting moulting adult Sanderling on the North basin accompanied by an adult and juvenile Little Ringed Plover . There were six flighty Common Sandpiper scampering along the shoreline of the South basin. Hirundines were sparse, but for a single Swallow , three House Martin , and four Swift powering low past and always a pleasure to watch. Common Tern have successfully bred here with around a dozen including young either flying or settled down on the rafts. A single eclipse drake Shoveler  was present as was a juvenile Shelduck and an Egyptian Goose .   

A quick note of four Common Swift flying low over Hackney Downs park on a beautiful warm summers evening.