26 August 2011

A rainy morning at Westport very often produces something at this time of year and this morning gave us what will probably be bird of the month, almost the first bird I saw when arrived was a Black-tailed Godwit stood with the Canada Geese by the side of the boating ramp, with no sign of Nick and my camera at home panic set in that it would go before anyone else saw it, I needn't of worried as it stayed for nearly 2 hours with most of the Westport regulars getting down to see it, this is the 2nd record this year and my 2nd record at Westport, but my first on the ground as most are just flyovers, this bird was rather tatty as it's in moult and seemed very tired. The photo below is from Nick Smith it looks like the bird has a odd ring on its right leg but we think it may just be some weed/plant rapped around its leg, any thoughts?

Also present, 43 Black-headed Gulls on the playing field, 7 Swifts overhead with over 35+ Swallows over the main lake, on the main lake 4 Teal were new in, 77 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a single Pochard and the 4 Mute Swans were joined by another adult which flew into the boating lake, a couple of Blackcaps were around the park, just 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Tits and 2 Bullfinches, a single Stock Dove on the gas works, 3 Whitethroats were on the sewage works, a Grey Wagtail flew over the top of the main lake, 3 Pied Wagtails on the playing field, 3 Mistle Thrushes by the visitor centre, as I was leaving a Common Sandpiper flew around the main lake and a Willow Warbler was singing from the canal side.