I had a quick look at the patch on the way back across from Edwinstowe after work this evening. This proved to be a good call; I'd just seen a message about an Osprey earlier at Langford, and as I arrived at Mons Pool, there, sat on the small post in front of the new viewing screen, was an Osprey. Fantastic! This makes up for missing the bird last week.
I walked up the side of Mons Pool for a better look, coming across a Great White Egret stood out in the middle. This is the second patch GWE this year, and judging from the size and shape of the smudge at the tip of the bill, a different bird. It also gives me finders points for Patchwork Challenge, which I didn't get for the previous bird (which had first been found at Langford).
A quick scan of Mons didn't reveal anything else, so I headed home for supper. I'd only just started eating when I had a tweet from Dave Read about a Temminck's Stint... at Mons Pool. Doh! I headed straight back out, but the bird had departed by the time I arrived - although it sounds like it may have dropped back in (with two Ringed Plover), so a check first thing tomorrow is on order.
Tawny Owl is one of those species that I really struggle with on the patch - in fact I completely missed one last year. I'd had several attempts for this species earlier in the year, without luck. Friday night, and I found myself at the viewing screens in the Parish Field, overlooking the heronry island. I lingered until dusk, enjoying a hunting Hobby, a fly through Peregrine, and 14 Little Egrets coming into roost.
Then, a Tawny Owl called from the island, along with a second; one then flew across onto Northcroft Lane, and called unseen from one of the big ash trees. Excellent! This puts me on 145 species, and 177 points for Patchwork Challenge.
Saturday, and despite the fact that rain was forecast, I decided to cycle up to the patch (I was without a car, so didn't have much option). I got drenched, and for my efforts, had a nice little haul of waders on an area without any public access - 3 Greenshank, 3 Green Sands, 1 Common Sand, 2 Dunlin, 2 LRP, 1 Ringed Plover and 3 Snipe, plus another 2 Snipe and one of the juv Avocets elsewhere on site. The Hobby put in another appearance, and a cream-crown Marsh Harrier showed at Meering.
Today, and yesterday's rain meant my wader spot had reduced rather in size, and just one apiece of Greenshank, Green Sand and LRP were present, with another Greenshank on Mons Pool.
