Warbles, baldies & throats

A few visits to West Hartford during an autumnal week were insignificant ornithologically speaking, with an abundance of barn swallow, decreasing numbers of shelduck, a female gadwall and a couple of short-eared owl.

Sunday morning was better, with te first (and late) sand martin, increased number of house equivalent andbarn swallow. Shelduck numbered three, while of more interest were coot - been missing a while now, so two on the pool and one calling from the marsh to the south was notable. Grasshopper warbler are strange with their inconsistent appearances, with none heard today (despite favourable conditions). One sedge warbler was new for 2012.

The route home was via the industrial estate - a single lesser whitethroat was heard and seen well thanks to a tip off from Gordon.