Rookery Pit today

WEDNESDAY 6 JULY

Although the first half of the day was relatively bright and calm, the second half was dominated by increasing winds from the Southwest. A few sharp heavy rain showers also quickly swept through. This deepening front was responsible for pushing over 660 Cory's Shearwaters in front of it, moving west past the Runnel Stone at Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra (West Cornwall)......

With such conditions, I fully expected a wave of new waders in Rookery Pit South but the only arrivals landed after I had departed the site.........

ROOKERY PIT (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Cliff Tack and I had a good look around Rookery Pit South early afternoon, recording 10 species of wader - not bad for early July......

The haul included 61 Lapwing (including 11 fledged young), the adult Oystercatcher, 4 Common Redshanks, 6 Ringed Plovers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS, a female RUFF (second day), 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 COMMON GREENSHANKS and the continuing adult WOOD SANDPIPER. Keith Owen recorded a 11th species in the evening, when 4 ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWITS dropped in.

Also noted were the single Little Egret, both Great Crested and Little Grebe with chicks, both pairs of Mute Swans including that with the 5 cygnets, 5 Common Teal, 3 Shoveler, 23 Northern Pochard and 76 Black-headed Gulls.

DOOLITTLE MEADOW FARM, EATON BRAY (BEDFORDSHIRE) (SP 987 197)

A post-breeding flock of 256 Common Starlings on wires, including virtually 50% (119 birds) juvenile birds.