Sightings 3/8/11

The Woodchat Shrike was still present to mid-afternoon at least. Here are a couple more shots of this delightful little bird.

© Andy Jordan, many thanks

On an upbeat note, we have been sent a near inexhaustible supply of photos of the bird....so there is no chance of us having to post any from the Sightings Page team and so sullying the experience. We thought members would like to know that...

SLIMBRIDGE WWT:

3.8.11 juvenile Wood Sandpiper
© Gordon Youdale, many thanks

SEVERNSIDE: per severnsidebirds highlights
Aust Warth: a very early Short-eared Owl seen this evening.

3.8.11 Short-eared Owl, one of our earliest ever

© Vic Savery, many thanks

NP-NW: 12+ Common Sandpiper in the pill this evening and an adult Mediterranean Gull this morning.

BARROW TANKS:
The Tufted brood still doing well, 1 Little Egret, 5 Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail around the shoreline. Still 5+ Goldcrest in the car park trees (S Hale).

A clear-off of the GC Grebes, only 12 counted today but c.70 here on 30 July.

CHEW VALLEY LAKE: late morning report:
Heron's Green: 10 Little Egret, 5 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper.

Herriott's: 2 Little Egret, 3 Little Ringed Plover (end of the channel), 2 Green Sandpiper and 3 Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere, 16 Grey Heron and 68 Lapwing around the lake (S Hale).

per S Davies: 14 Little Ringed Plover were near the Herriott's channel early am (overnight roost), it's possible that they disperse during the day. Counts can be hit and miss due to the difficult viewing conditions.