19 May 2011

Well the sun brought all the Westport regulars out today including Steve Seal chasing pictures of Little Ringed Plovers (see his excellent photo's at the end), sadly there wasn't a great deal to see, the weather was bright and sunny but it was a cold 10c with a cutting north west breeze, visit from 05.50 - 08.30.

The first of 9 Blackcaps were seen near the car park, included in this count is 3 young being fed on the sewage works, 3 young Moorhens were along the edge of the boating lake, on the old beach area 2 Little Ringed Plovers were present and new in were a couple of Common Sandpipers which a few of the regulars managed to add to there Westport year lists, hardly any Lesser Black-backed Gulls going over today after the good numbers from yesterday, just 4 Tufted Duck were on the main lake with 9 Great Crested Grebes again present, a single Pied Wagtail was feeding along the edge of the main lake, a few Mistle Thrushes about today with 4 seen, as well as the resident pair of Mute Swans a couple of 1st years tried to land on the lake before being chased off, Swifts numbered around 50+ today, again mostly over the top of the main lake, a extra 3 Canada Geese Goslings have arrived taking our total up to 39, on the top pool 3 Reed Warblers were singing, the 1st of 2 Willow Warblers was along the edge of the gas and sewage works, also on the gas works a single Bullfinch, the 1st of 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Collared Doves and 2 Stock Doves, on the sewage works, at least 3 Garden Warblers, 1 Whitethroat and a single Rook flew over, which is possibly the only ever May record of this species, back at the main lake and a single Greylag Goose came in and 2 Herring Gulls flew over, lastly about 10+ House Martins joined the Swifts.

Things will probably pick up now I'm back at work on earlys for the next 3 days, as promised below is a couple of Steve Seals excellent Little Ringed Plover shots.