Wednesday 16th September - Bits of a week

A very bitty weekend and start to this week. The weather has been appalling, which hasn't helped. There was little to report from the weekend as I didn't manage to get out. The Cuckoo appeared again in the garden late Sunday afternoon for no more than 5 minutes, just like a week ago, and there have been at least 25 Greenfinches, plus one Siskin and 8 Goldfinch, although I've seen at least 2 of the greenfinches looking visibly sick - so maybe their large numbers are still not virus free. The other significant wildlife was the sighting of a Weasel. It ran across the Patio outside the backdoor, stopped momentarily and then dash into the flowerbed not to be seen again. It's been years since I've seen a Weasel !

Yesterday evening a Yellow-browed Warbler was reported from Linchmere Common, which is only 5 minutes away but the rain was predicted to be heavy from 8am and to continue for the rest of the day. But a good bird so close to home was worth a try, therefore after I dropped the Girls at school I headed there for a try. The rain actually held off, which is typical of the forecasting,  but there was no sign of the warbler. Just a few Chiffchaffs and best a Firecrest.

Arriving home and finding that the rain was now forecast to be delayed until 11am I decided to head to Siddlesham as there was a Grey Phalarope and Pectoral Sandpiper reported there, which are 2 good autumn waders to catch up with. I arrived there around 10.55am and yes, had 5 minutes of rain free before it started.

The Ferry Pool was quite busy and the Grey Phalarope was there, but at the back of the pool so scope views only. Also 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 4 Avocet and 30 Lapwing, but no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper, the considered opinion of those present was that the Pec Sand was hiding in the reeds next to the road and it would be a waiting game, but the rain deluge casued me to think the bird might well stay in the reeds for longer than I would keep dry.

Several eclipse Teal and Shoveler were on the pool and a flock of c50 Yellow Wagtails were amongst the cows at the back of the field and a Peregrine made a couple of swoops overt the pool.

A grim and wet Ferry Pool

There is a Grey Phalarope hiding on the edge of the mud in this picture !