Weekend washout

Three birding trips out this weekend were all a bit disappointing, not aided by the weather. Friday's trip to Cotham Landfill didn't yield any notable gulls. On Saturday, I did a reccy of Cotham Flash (lots of water, not many birds - although quite a few Lapwings on the adjacent field) and also had a look at Staunton Quarry (no Willow Tits but a freshly dead Tawny Owl).

Today I walked round Girton Pits, again looking for Willow Tits without success (Notts Birdwatchers are doing a survey - see here) - and the Bewick's Swans on Smithy Marsh had moved on - and then head to Collingham Pits. No migrants, but on Ferry Lane Lake there were 2 Ringed Plovers, with the Whooper Swan still amongst the Mutes (numbering 78 today) on the fields opposite; on the Silt Lagoon there were 8 Redshank and 2 Oystercatchers; and at Mons Pool there were 14 Shelduck and a Little Egret.

Ringed Plover at Collingham Pits