Early winter arrivals

Week 39; 25 September 2020 - Pivot Fields

The weeks seem to pass by so quickly and before I know it, its the weekend and time to soak in the autumn migration. Back to the Pivots arriving as the sun started rising at 6am. John Gurnett, Jules and Matt Nottingham were also here to enjoy the morning out.

We started at the marsh, donning Wellies to get a little further in, as the reeds are starting to obscure the open pool. We were entertained with some interaction between the Black-winged Stilt's as two birds chased each other around the marsh in the soft morning glow.

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

A very distinctive call alerted me to a Spotted Redshank overhead that was thinking about dropping in. But they are so skittish, it made several low level passes before finally settling on the opposite side of the marsh to where we were standing

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)

At the same time, a number of Common Snipe were put up by a passing Marsh Harrier

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

together with some Wood Sandpiper's

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

There were also good numbers of Garganey on the bigger pool

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

In the reeds, only Greater Reed Warbler showed itself

Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)

I saw a single Northern Lapwing in the flock of White-tailed Lapwing on the far side of the marsh - an early winter arrival, so took a drive to try and get a closer look and see if there were any others. Just the one, but more will be arriving in the coming week's.

Northern (Vanellus vanellus) and White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus)

In and around the reeds, a few Daurian Shrikes

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

I then checked a larger white Egret amongst the Cattle Egret in the adjacent field, but unfortunately, it was only a Western Reef Heron

Western Reef Heron (Egretta g. schistacea)

In the same place, there were numerous Squacco Herons flying by

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

and a couple of Common Starling, another early winter arrival

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Passing overhead was a single Collared Pratincole

Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola)

On the last drive around the farm, I found an obliging Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

And a magnificent Eastern Imperial Eagle

Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

So, not too many migrants today, as a lot of the passerines have already passed through - but still some good birds around to enjoy and way better than being stuck in the apartment