Another Stonechat

22nd September - I think Stonechats have had a good year as there seem to be above average numbers passing through the region.  Yesterday, five birds were reported from hills to the north and today three more not too far away, so I decided to check out Pump Lane at lunchtime, which is the most likely place to get one.  Bingo! as I walked the footpath near to the vines, a Stonechat flew up from the area of rough planting next to me.  It perched up on a nearby tree to allow a record shot to be taken.

 

 

 

Not much else other than a few Meadow Pipits.

 

A quick check of the pit found the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull on the spit, one of two LWHG present! Otherwise, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Snipe, a single Shoveler and into double figures of Teal.

 

On Friday morning, a quick stop at the lake before work was rewarded with a Ringed Plover on the spit, the first of the autumn.  Yesterday, despite not being reported on Saturday, a juvenile Ringed Plover was in the same spot, though I watched it fly off SE, so possibly the same bird.  The Firecrest was still around yesterday, still associating with 1-2 Goldcrests and all still very vocal, which is the best way of picking them up.  I also had 2 Shelduck flying over east early on, the first since the middle of June.