First of the autumn

I might not have thought it possible but I managed to find even fewer migrants at the reservoirs - but plenty of rain again - today. A late Swift fed over Lockwood where there were 15 or so Swallows among the House and Sand Martins low over the water. A Green Sandpiper was in the overflow channel and two Common Sandpipers on the reservoir itself. A sign that September has arrived was my first Meadow Pipit of the autumn - a species which simply no longer turns up in the numbers of the past. It did, however, kindly join a very tame Wheatear in frame. Two more Swifts were over No 5 and three Common Sandpipers were on East Warwick with a few more Swallows too. I found the tit flock on the central path a couple of times but there seemed less variety with only one Willow Warbler and four Blackcaps.  I should have gone to Staines.....

DB @ porthkillier