Quicky

A quick patch visit today around East Warwick and the Rear Paddocks.

A female Teal stood out among the Tufties.

 The East Warwick water level was teasingly low. And with the wind being so gusty I could see there were quite a few small birds taking refuge in the exposed rocks. A little walk along the 'shoreline' flushed several Grey and Pied Wagtails, three Common Sandpipers and one female Wheatear. 

The reed bed between 1 & 2 continues to develop.

There was no black and glossy bird in the flood relief channel by the rear paddocks.

Just a little white one.

@leevalleybirder

Taking the Michahellis

As I approached Lockwood, a gentleman named Pete greeted me and asked me if I had seen anything around. I had just arrived so I hadn't, but he had just come down from Lockwood and had a Greenshank and a Black Tern. Both birds being a patch year tick. He stated that the Greenshank had dropped down onto the overflow channel and the Black Tern was fishing over the north end of Lockwood.

Not having either on my patch list and with the Black Tern being a lifer for me, I eagerly made haste onto the reservoir. I immediately picked the Black Tern up on my scope.

Black Tern 

I couldn't locate the Greenshank but I was more than happy with the Black Tern. 

I was later joined by Jonathan whom I explored High Maynard and East Warwick with. On East Warwick we picked up a juvenile Yellow-Legged Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus Michahellis

GH - @leevalleybirder

The Morning After

Cue - lots of patch birds.

That's what I tweeted as I snapped the logo of the Eurostar while boarding the train. And what transpired while I was away - Black-tailed Godwits, Pied Flycatcher and Yellow-legged Gull.

B****r!

Late to the party (don't like parties anyway) due to holidaying in Paris with wife and friends (not as fancy as it sounds), I thought I'd try and see if any patch ticks had lingered.

Of course - nothing had.

No Black-tailed Godwits (need) or Yellow-legged Gulls (need) or P. Flycatcher (got).

Mrs. Tern says to Mr. Tern "He should have been here yesterday."

 The best part of the morning was watching the Brown Hawkers, Emperors, Red-eyed and blue damselflies and the Ruddy Darters make use of the Coppermill Stream by East Warwick. At one point two Emperors wrestled mid-air and one pushed the other under the water, trying to drown it. The Emperor managed to drag itself to the surface after a few minutes and flew off.

Emperor - "Yeah, yeah. I'm stuck in water. But you weren't here yesterday."

All these birds were here yesterday.

This Common Sandpiper was here yesterday.

I'm not actually bitter about missing patch birds while away, I'm happy for the patch really. It was fun watching the tweets while in Paris and imagining the patchers on the scene. I'm going to Italy later on in August - the picture below summarises what I expect will descend onto the patch while I'm away.

Grey Heron to the others - "Quick, pose for the patchers while that other guy's gone."

@leevalleybirder - GH