As readers of this blog will know, the flood/semi-permanent scrape opposite Axmouth FC has been a favoured spot of mine during the past five or six months. Continuous checking of it throughout the late autumn period eventually produced the goods with the patch's first Long-billed Dowitcher. There always seemed to be plenty of common birds on it, and as well as the Dowitchter, some cracking scarcities with four Whooper Swans, two Ruff, two Water Pipits and a Lapland Bunting all seen here.
So it is with great sadness I report that the end of this super habbo is near. I am still checking it often, but each day the water levels are getting lower and lower. This is how it looked today...
Soon to be just mud I'm sure!
The whole point of this post though was to say 'it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings!'. Over the last two days, although I've done very little birding, this is the only place I have seen any summer migrants!
Yesterday my third Wheatear of 2011, another stunning male, was hopping about in the grass behind the remaining scrapes. And today, a cracking male White Wagtail was with the flock of Pied Wags feeding on the fast drying mud.
So is there time for one more surprise on this bonus bit of habbo that has served us so well?....
So it is with great sadness I report that the end of this super habbo is near. I am still checking it often, but each day the water levels are getting lower and lower. This is how it looked today...
Soon to be just mud I'm sure!The whole point of this post though was to say 'it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings!'. Over the last two days, although I've done very little birding, this is the only place I have seen any summer migrants!
Yesterday my third Wheatear of 2011, another stunning male, was hopping about in the grass behind the remaining scrapes. And today, a cracking male White Wagtail was with the flock of Pied Wags feeding on the fast drying mud.
So is there time for one more surprise on this bonus bit of habbo that has served us so well?....
No comments:
Post a Comment