Barnes WWT migrant main course

After last weeks migrant taster menu, the meat has arrived. 20+ Swifts over the Main Lake, White Wag on the island near the Obs, 8-10 Swallows and then 2 House Martins over the lake and north, 2 Whitethroat (the first looking all migranty and skulky, the second singing), 3+ Common Tern, 2 LRP, Green Sand on the Wader Scrape, 3 Common Sand, 4-5 Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, m Wheatear on the Wader Scrape islands. Also 2 Cetti's, House Sparrows carrying nesting material, maybe 3 lapwing clutches. Also a few of the more wintery birds around still: Shoveler, Teal but no sign of the Wigeon here last week.

One of the Reed Warblers from the little loop round the back of the feeding station.

Rich Wet Staines

Or in other words a trip to Richmond Park, London Wetland Centre and Staines Res. Nice range of woodland birds at Richmond including Nuthatch, loads of Mandarins, all 3 woodpecker spp, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, 10+ singing Blackcaps and about the same number of non-singing males plus a few females. Barnes still had 2 (m&f) Wigeon, 2 LRPs, Green Sand (on Wader Scrape), c25 Sand Martins, White Wag on the main lake, 1 or (probably) 2 Cetti's. Staines had a few Common Tern, 3 Oystercatcher, m&f Garganey, GN Diver (spending most of its time underwater), 2-3 Black necked Grebe and still 8 Goldeneye.