Another day with fresh winds, initially from the south-west, then later in the afternoon veering north-east with heavy showers again.
Two visits today to the dam from 0630-0800 and Hill Farm, Mander and the south end of the dam 1530-1700.
3 Yellow-legged Gulls; 3 Arctic Terns were off the dam early morning with 1 off the fishing lodge later in the day; 8 Common Terns. The heavy afternoon showers had brought down numbers of hirundines with c. 300 Swallows, c. 60 Sand Martin and c. 100 House Martins off Hill Farm there were also c. 400 Swifts.
A single Little Ringed Plover was on the dam late afternoon on 25 May, little else noted though in a two hour trawl of the north side of the reservoir apart from 6 Common Buzzards and 2 Red Kites.
Grafham Water - 23 May 2013
A cold north-westerly wind, cloudy in the morning with occasional very heavy showers developing.
The dam, Mander and lagoons areas were covered early morning with a briefer visit to the dam and Hill Farm areas late afternoon..
3 Sanderlings were on the dam in the morning with just 1 left by late afternoon, a first-summer Turnstone was also on the dam as were 6 Oystercatchers. An Arctic Tern resting on the dam flew off high ENE early morning with a second bird off Mander. A male Avocet flew over the dam and headed toward the lagoons, there were 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 adult, 1 second calendar year and 2 third calendar years).
A Spotted Flycatcher was at the north end of the dam and c. 150 Swifts were counted.
The dam, Mander and lagoons areas were covered early morning with a briefer visit to the dam and Hill Farm areas late afternoon..
3 Sanderlings were on the dam in the morning with just 1 left by late afternoon, a first-summer Turnstone was also on the dam as were 6 Oystercatchers. An Arctic Tern resting on the dam flew off high ENE early morning with a second bird off Mander. A male Avocet flew over the dam and headed toward the lagoons, there were 4 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 adult, 1 second calendar year and 2 third calendar years).
A Spotted Flycatcher was at the north end of the dam and c. 150 Swifts were counted.
Lammas Meadow & Grafham - 20 May 2013
A north-easterly breeze and overcast.
Two Siskins early morning at Lammas Meadow appeared to be on territory, a single Arctic Tern flew ENE along the Ouse valley.
Later 1 Hobby, 1 Turnstone, 3 Common Sandpipers, c. 60 Swifts and 6 Yellow Wagtails were on or over the dam at Grafham Water.
Two Siskins early morning at Lammas Meadow appeared to be on territory, a single Arctic Tern flew ENE along the Ouse valley.
Later 1 Hobby, 1 Turnstone, 3 Common Sandpipers, c. 60 Swifts and 6 Yellow Wagtails were on or over the dam at Grafham Water.
Pyrenees and the steppes of Huesca - 16-19 May 2013
A short trip with the old gang to this fantastic area. A great variety of habitats are accessible within a relatively small area ranging from cereal and semi-desert tableland steppe through Mediterranean type scrub to the verdant valleys and craggy peaks of the Pyrenees.
Despite losing most of a day to heavy snow in the Pyrenees a day which was earmarked for treeline and alpine meadow specialists, a four day trip delivered the following selected highlights: Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Goshawk, Lesser Kestrel, Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Dupont's Lark, Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Blue RockThrush, Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Black-eared Whetear, Subalpine Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Wallcreeper, Red-backed, Woodchat and Iberian Great Grey Shrikes, Alpine Chough, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting and a host of other interesting species.
Despite losing most of a day to heavy snow in the Pyrenees a day which was earmarked for treeline and alpine meadow specialists, a four day trip delivered the following selected highlights: Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Goshawk, Lesser Kestrel, Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Roller, Dupont's Lark, Short-toed Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Thekla Lark, Calandra Lark, Blue RockThrush, Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Black-eared Whetear, Subalpine Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, Wallcreeper, Red-backed, Woodchat and Iberian Great Grey Shrikes, Alpine Chough, Rock Bunting, Ortolan Bunting and a host of other interesting species.
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Tableland steppe El Planeron reserve north of Belchite
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Spectacled Warbler - near Candasnos, Monegros
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Grafham Water - 14 May 2013
A very fresh morning with cold south-westerly winds and clear skies, cloud increasing during the day with heavy showers in the afternoon.
From 06.30 - 10.00 covered the dam and lagoons areas with a return visit to the dam and Mander viewpoints from 3.00 - 4.30.
A quiet morning with just 1 Dunlin on the dam, 1 third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Avocet on the lagoons, 1 female Wheatear on the dam and c 50 Swifts.
The afternoon showers brought in Swifts with c400 present and hirundines with c 260 Swallows and c 150 House Martins. A Sanderling had joined the Dunlin on the dam and 2 Whimbrel flew through high north-east. A single Arctic Tern was off Mander and just two Common Terns were present.
From 06.30 - 10.00 covered the dam and lagoons areas with a return visit to the dam and Mander viewpoints from 3.00 - 4.30.
A quiet morning with just 1 Dunlin on the dam, 1 third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Avocet on the lagoons, 1 female Wheatear on the dam and c 50 Swifts.
The afternoon showers brought in Swifts with c400 present and hirundines with c 260 Swallows and c 150 House Martins. A Sanderling had joined the Dunlin on the dam and 2 Whimbrel flew through high north-east. A single Arctic Tern was off Mander and just two Common Terns were present.
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| Sanderling |
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| Common Swift |
Lammas Meadow - 12 May 2013
A warm though fresh morning with a light south-westerly wind:
Fairly quiet this morning, a Turtle Dove which flew through north was the highlight, otherwise 4 Little Egrets over south, 8 local Common Terns, 1 Hobby over, 2 male Yellow Wagtails on the flash, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and c. 25 Swifts.
Fairly quiet this morning, a Turtle Dove which flew through north was the highlight, otherwise 4 Little Egrets over south, 8 local Common Terns, 1 Hobby over, 2 male Yellow Wagtails on the flash, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and c. 25 Swifts.
Grafham Water - 11 May 2013
Following a couple of rather quiet days, fresh south-westerly winds with several very heavy showers, some with hail, late afternoon brought a few migrants in. A three hour spell at various points along the south side of the site.
2 Turnstones were on the dam as were 3 Dunlin plus 8 on the lagoons as were 2 Avocets still; 4 Ringed Plovers and 3 Common Sandpipers were also on the dam and 3 Sanderling circled over the dam during heavy rain and may well have landed. 2 Arctic Terns were off the dam and 14 Common Terns were counted. A single third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was the only larid of note.
4 Hobbies between the lagoons and dam sporadically harassed Swifts and hirundines with one successful kill (a House Martin).
Warblers were well down in numbers compared to the high numbers noted on the 8th and 9th of May with many having moved on, 2 Cetti's Warblers were singing at the lagoons.
A single nominate Wheatear was on the dam, 2 Cuckoos were at the lagoons, 6 presumably local breeding Yellow Wagtails on the dam. C 140 Swifts and c 230 Swallows were around during one the heavy showers.
2 Turnstones were on the dam as were 3 Dunlin plus 8 on the lagoons as were 2 Avocets still; 4 Ringed Plovers and 3 Common Sandpipers were also on the dam and 3 Sanderling circled over the dam during heavy rain and may well have landed. 2 Arctic Terns were off the dam and 14 Common Terns were counted. A single third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was the only larid of note.
4 Hobbies between the lagoons and dam sporadically harassed Swifts and hirundines with one successful kill (a House Martin).
Warblers were well down in numbers compared to the high numbers noted on the 8th and 9th of May with many having moved on, 2 Cetti's Warblers were singing at the lagoons.
A single nominate Wheatear was on the dam, 2 Cuckoos were at the lagoons, 6 presumably local breeding Yellow Wagtails on the dam. C 140 Swifts and c 230 Swallows were around during one the heavy showers.
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| Turnstones at a canter - Grafham dam |
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