Cleveland scrapes guided walk at CWP

19 Dec - An excellent guided walk (thanks to Ben Welbourn and Kim Milsom) around the scrapes at pit 74/Cleveland Farm that are normally closed off. A fine day, and birdwise interesting, the highlight being a Jack Snipe flushed amongst a total of 16 Common Snipe - the Jack distinctive being smaller and dumpier, shorter-winged and shorter-billed, with low straight flight and no call on rising. Also seen, 600+ Lapwings (but surprisingly no Golden Plover), good numbers of duck including Pintail, Shoveler and Goldeneye, Jay, Green Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails calling, Stock Dove, a pair of Stonechats and 4 Little Egrets (apparently 15 sucessful nests this year). My first Jack Snipe in the Water Park since the 1990s ! Thankyou to Bob Philpott for finding it.....