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.
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