Local Patch - 17/04/09

Weatherwise, another murky day. At least the rain stopped around lunch time.

New birds in today:
Whitethroat - 2 singing males.
Dunlin - a summer plumaged bird on the scrape
Yellow Wagtail - 1 over

New birds seen by others:
Lesser Whitethroat, Black-tailed Godwit.

The Common Sandpiper remains, as does Green Sandpiper and the male Shelduck.

Waders

A Ringed Plover replaced yesterdays Little Ringed Plover at Octagon farm, and there was a Green Sandpiper along a brook near junction 13 of the M1.





A male Reed Bunting singing at Octagon farm.



A flock of 145 Barnacle Geese were back at Willington, some of them sporting red darvic rings.

Dunstable STW

17th Apr:

A Barn Swallow takes a rest from feeding in the keen easterly wind - the hirundines were keeping very low above the water taking advantage of the insects on the leeward side of the plantation.



16th Apr:

The first Sedge Warbler of the Year for the site was keeping low at the front of the lagoon.



A pair of Blue Tit were foraging in the dead stuff above the Sedge Warbler.





A small 'charm' of Goldfinch fed alongside a pair of Linnet.



A Green Sandpiper was, suprisingly, the first this year at the site. The Whooper Swan 'on patrol' chases off a Canada Goose.





A pair of Grey Wagtail wait to feed - the male showing a black throat patch.

Dunstable STW

A Water Rail skitted around the scrape often persued by the local Moorhens.





Two of six Green Sandpiper ventured close to the camera.



This Migrant Hawker spots its next meal.

This pair of Wigeon arrived today.



Collard Dove.



Woodpigeon.



A juvenile Common Buzzard splits away from a group of four others.



A Comma takes in the last rays of the day.



A Common Darter does likewise.

Dunstable STW: Wildfowl 'n Waders

This pair of Whooper Swan are, unfortunately, the progeny of Wardown Park captive/pinioned stock.





The first Green Sandpiper of the year has been present for a week or so. Here, the bird is showing off its leg-iron.



A menage a trois. If they were rare, genuine vagrants would I, perhaps, get enthusiastic about the Canada Goose ?



Smart wildfowl in the form of Gadwall