Sunday 28 July 2013

A great start to late summer on the patch

Another two patch ticks this week, one of which was a very expected Crossbill, 2 of which were seen flying over the fen and towards the reception area. Both sounded very normal so just a slight pulse increase and not the trumpet call I was hoping for.
A day later I was cutting various bits around Buckenham when I went to investigate how much vegetation I would need to cut to clear a view into the North pool near the hide. As I approached the pool a few waders took flight, two of which were small and showed white rumps, thats when you start saying 'turn around- let me see you!' luckily they did a bit of circuit and landed again allowing me to confirm them as two Curlew Sandpipers. The two brick red beauties constitute another full patch tick for me, they are surprisingly infrrequent on the reserve but can be expected in numbers at the beet factory, which made the record all the more satisfying.... The vegetation will be cleared with a weedwiper so hopefully the views will get better soon.
A quick look this morning saw 4 Wood Sands, 2 greenshank as well as 63 Blackwits and a few ruff. I bet the biggie turns up next week when I'm in Scotland, it's looking good down there at the mo. I have also seen that there is currently a little stint present too (still need that too but I hope to get one sooner or later there).
So it puts my patchbirding list up to 144 species, just 6 off my target of 150 and 5 off of my best Mid Yare list set last year of 149.
While on the subject of figures... I have had 8 patch ticks this year so far so an extra 6 is possible the most likely additions none of which are guaranteed include Spotted Flycatcher, Barwit, Black tern, Osprey, Little Gull, Little stint and Pec Sand.

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