Out very early to miss the exercise enthusiasts and canine lovers ! Previous to 0600 hours appears to be a critical threshold and , currently, proved to be the most tranquil time in all other senses too.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir appeared to "hold" much less than previously, although the weather and viewing conditions were better than a couple of days ago. A full circuit produced a Little Egret, a Little ringed Plover ( alarm calls suggested late breeding ? ) , a Common Sandpiper, and, eventually, counts of waterbirds and passerine feeding flocks were much the same as previously. Each day I've ended up feeling guilty at disturbing the resting non-breeding adult Cormorant from its comfortable roosting position on a buoy, but there you go !
On to Broadstones Reservoir, where an absolute bevy of ladies who walk dogs ( in advance of lunching ), suggested any passing waders might have been disturbed already. Nonetheless a group of 30 post-breeding Mallard, 3 Little Grebe, Curlew and odd Lapwing and an attractive 25-30 charm of Goldfinches were noteworthy.
Nearby moorland areas produced Kestrel and Red Grouse , but little else. Winscar Reservoir, I suppose the highest in this particular part of the South Pennines, had a Common Sandpiper, several Oystercatcher, around 85 Canada Geese, a singing Chiffchaff and Jay in adjacent woodland and several Siskin. At a lower level, Bowshaw Whams reservoir held 10 Mallard, Grey Heron and had an overflying Cormorant west.
A migration watch from 1000-1130 over a large expanse of open mooralnd had a Common Swift west, a local Kestrel, territorial Curlew interacting with a local Common Buzzard but little else. So, at lunchtime, and six hours on , I called it a day after an interesting and satisfying birding outing.
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