Recce trip

Week 42; 16 October 2020 - Pivots

I decided to do a short recce trip to Pivots in advance of the Global eBird Big Day planned for tomorrow, arriving as the sun was rising. No sunrise pic this morning, but this Common Kestrel will do.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

On the way to the marsh, I picked up a few Common Ringed Plover

Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

White Wagtail

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

and Daurian Shrike

Daurian Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

John Gurnett was already at the marsh, as was the Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite (Elanus c. vociferus)

Warbler activity in the reeds has really diminished, but we did eek out an Indian Reed Warbler

Indian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus s. brunnescens)

Western Marsh Harriers over the marsh

Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

put up the small flock of Garganey

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

Along with a number of Wood Sandpipers

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

A flock of 5 Glossy Ibis were present

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

I did a walk around the perimeter of the marsh, flushing my first Jack Snipe of this autumn

Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)

Whilst a Pallid Harrier flew by

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Once back in my car, I noticed some movement at the base of the reeds and slowly a Spotted Crake crept out of the reeds

Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)

And just to the left of it, a Water Rail deeper in the reeds. I have heard them at the marsh, but this is the first time I have seen one on the farm - excuse the crappy record shot!

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)

A cracking summer plumage White-winged Tern was foraging over the marsh

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

Driving away from the marsh, I suddenly saw this Steppe Buzzard aggressively chase a Spotted Eagle and was surprised that the Eagle was so submissive

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) chased by a Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus)

There are still good numbers of Blue-cheeked Bee-eater present

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)

I went to check the area for the Sociables and was pleased to see they were still present, along with the Northern's

2 Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)

I encountered a few Pied Wheatear's

Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka)

Another distant Imperial Eagle

Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

I stopped to enjoy a bit of interaction/piracy between to Black-eared Kites; one giving chase to steal food from another who was trying to eat his prey on the wing. In the 2nd last image, you can see half the bird drop out of its talons after which the 2nd bird gives chase to the falling prey

Black-eared Kite (Milvus m. lineatus)

A relatively obliging perched Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)

Before I headed back home