After an initial sunny start to the morning it soon clouded over, with spits of drizzle on an increasing SW wind.

I carried out a full patch walk this morning, when during the 5 hour visit I found a total of 44 bird species, not too bad in the cool, breezy conditions. The excitement for the morning was provided by the discovery of a superb male REDSTART (99,53), which was feeding from the hedge line that borders the Pub Field and the Ashes Lane Fields, just one more species needed now for the 100!

A LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL  (54) was added to the months list, I wonder if I will get 70+ species this September ? The last year that September failed to reach over 70 species was back in 2006.

BUZZARD and KESTREL were the only Raptors seen today, but not all of the regular breeding woodland species were found, once again Songthrush, which are concealing themselves excellently whilst they finish moulting, nor Mistlethrush were found this morning, Long Tailed Tit also evaded the days count.

Very few BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF and WHITETHROAT remain here now, they will soon be gone for this year. The only other species of any note were a passage of HOUSE MARTINS and the female MANDARIN DUCK on the main lake again.

WREN ( Taken yesterday)

There was a bright and sunny start to the morning, with a moderate SW wind, but cloud soon drifted in, bringing rain by late afternoon.

Another 3 hour walk around the Ashes Lane Fields, Pub Field, Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds was made this morning, but most of the Summer birds seemed to have moved out, with the exception of another WHINCHAT at Migrant Alley, which flew over to the Greenhouse Grounds, where it sat and gave me a few photo opportunities, it was just in range  ;-)

Just 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 HOUSE MARTINS and 40-50 SWALLOWS were the other the Summer species seen this morning.

Up to 100 CANADA GEESE flew over in small skeins, with a few GREYLAG GEESE among them. HERRING GULLS and BLACK HEADED GULLS flew over continuously, plus the three local Raptor species of BUZZARD, SPARROWHAWK and KESTREL were all up hunting.

Whinchat.