CWP

27-28 Aug - A catch up at CWP, at a quiet time of the year....... pit 74 yielded a few waders in the form of 2 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. A couple of visits to pit 132 at Kempsford produced a sought-after Greenshank,

also 3 Green and 4 Common Sandpipers, and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover. Shorncote was fairly quiet, with a Common Sand,

a Dunlin and a fem Sparrowhawk being the highlights.

A few coastal migrants.......

26 Aug -

Bank holiday traffic meant that we didn't have time for the planned boat to Brownsea, but an afternoon on the Dorset coast path was ample compensation. There were a few migrants about -

10+ Wheatears, fem Redstart and a Whinchat - plus an impressive display by 2 juvenile Peregrines,

much to the annoyance of the local Kestrels. Also some insect highlights - see Butterfly blog.

Farmoor

21 Aug - On a brief stop, the Little Stints had departed Farmoor,

but nice views along the causeway of an adult Sanderling moulting out of summer plumage - also 4 Dunlin including a confiding juvenile,

2 Common Sandpipers, a Raven over, and many Sand Martins together with a late Swift feeding over the choppy water on a fair westerly breeze.

Musselburgh waders

20 Aug - An impressive wader spectacle on the falling tide at the Esk mouth this evening, large numbers of Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits and Oystercatchers flighting onto the estuary as the mud became exposed. Highlights included 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 summer plumaged Grey Plovers - also Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Turnstone, Redshank and 4 Black-tailed Godwits, with a nice group of 20 or so flighty Sanderling. Altogether a shorebird spectacular...... Other highlights included 9 Velvet Scoter offshore with large numbers of moulting Eider, and at least 100 Goosander/Red-breasted Mergansers. Due to the strong easterlies and showers, a steady stream of Sandwich Terns were passing, with Gannets and a few Kittiwakes offshore.

Osprey!

18-19 Aug - the highlight of 2 days Munroing was an unexpected Osprey fishing over Loch Ericht, probably a late-departing juvenile. Red Grouse, Wheatear, Stonechat and many (presumed juv) Meadow Pipits also in evidence on the hills.

Redstart at Blakehill

12 Aug - I had another go at the Blakehill Redstarts this morning, and the male was rather obliging, sitting out preening in the morning sun and allowing fairly close approach, and some photos. Also a family party of 5 Kestrels all hovering.

WEBS induction

11 Aug - A morning look around the part of the Water Park that myself and one other are counting monthly, as from Sept. Highlights included a Little Egret on pit 32 and a Kingfisher flying across lake 34. Otherwise fairly quiet, as would be expected in August.

Glos odds and ends.........

6 Aug - while cycling 30 miles from Cirencester to Birdlip and back through Cotswold lanes in lovely sun, a few odds and ends...... A juvenile Cuckoo in a hedge, over 30 House Martins in a feeding flock, and a calling Raven. Hardly any traffic once off the main roads.

Summer........

5 Aug - Good views of 3 juvenile Montagu's Harriers at a Southern English breeding site, learning to hunt and graceful as always. Also 6 Red Kites and 3 Buzzards present. Later, a male Dartford Warbler and family of Stonechats on the edge of the New Forest.