Bank holiday Monday saw me at West Hartford a few times.
The morning visit was dominated by the return of the immature
marsh harrier, albeit very briefly at 08:15, putting all the gulls up off the flash and being chased off by the carrion crows. The harrier drifted north-east and appeared to follow the River Blyth. I guess it may stick around.
Three
ringed plover increased to four by the evening, a number that I was happy with until I saw an email off LMcD this afternoon - he had 14 (site record, probably) later on Monday evening. Two
grasshopper warbler continue to "reel" and the Crowhall Lane roundabout is holding at least one singing
garden warbler. The evening visit included a fly-over
common buzzard, but no sign of the barn owl.
Tuesday afternoon included a brief visit after work, shelduck numbered 4, lapwing 28, ringed plover 2 and a few lbbg, hg, bhg and a single common gull.
***
As I write this I receive a few text message from my mate Sacha in Norfolk, he's just dipped the East Bank trumpeter finch after a long convoluted trip on public transport. (And its come back after he has left.....) Bit of a pain that, though he'll not be too disappointed as he found the Blakeney Point bird a couple of years back! If this bird does remain, it will be tempting to take a trip down at the weekend, especially if other drift migrants are available.
The bird in the photograph here is that of the June 2005 individual at Dungeness, Kent - seen after a long overnight drive south with Tom, photographed early morning under a garden feed station.
