Today a singing Willow Warbler was my earliest in Bedfordshire. Other migrants included two Barn Swallow, a single Sand Martin and two Chiffchaff. Wetter weather moved in mid-afternoon during which a pair of calling Redshank circled the site but quickly moved north. One (perhaps two) Water Rail were on the scrape and five Common Snipe came out to feed in the rain. A male Reed Bunting sat out the worst of the heavy downpour.
Spent four hours today in the vain hope of finding a mega passerine, but it didn't happen. I did, however, find a 'mega' gull - mega in the context of little 'ole Dunstable STW - a juv/1st w Little Gull ! This patch 'tick' only spent two minutes after discovery, in distant view, before heading off south.
A Water Rail on the scrape was another good discovery - this one actually flew towards the camera !
The pair of Ruddy Shelduck are still on site, despite spending the odd day at other venues such as Tring and Luton Hoo.
A dank drizzley grey day when cameras should be left at home !
New in today:
On the scrape, the first Yellow Wagtail this year fed and bathed, and the first Water Rail for some weeks skittered around the margins. Hirundine numbers were well in to double figures.
Such were the poor light levels that these shots were taken (hand-held) at ISO 800, and 1/200 and 1/100 sec. shutter speed respectively
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.
