Wednesday August 6

This evening was still and sunny at first. Gradually this gave way to almost complete cloud cover. Birding a small patch is all about dreaming of the big one, impossible dreams, and the occasional little victory.

This evening's bonus bird came as I was gazing at the flotilla of newly released Mallard on the main pool wondering if they would ever pull in something different. Scarcely had this thought floated away when something new did indeed drop in. A Shoveler, the first since March, and only the second in the last two years.

Shoveler

The remainder of the pool was filled with the usual stuff, although I did notice that the single female Tufted Duck with its brood of six had been joined by two more females.

At the Flashes I immediately regretted not packing my scope. At least 12 Green Sandpipers were split between the two flashes, and four Common Snipe were newly arrived on the nearest. Six Teal there were forced to swim nervously into the water as a Fox skirted the back of the pool.

Passerines this evening consisted of a Whitethroat, two Chiffchaffs, two Reed Warblers (one of which was singing despite a beak full of insects), 50 Goldfinches, 40 Swallows, 20 House Martins, and two Swifts.

The forecast for the weekend is for a return to wind and rain. I hope they have got it wrong.