Birdwatching Trip Report - 11th August 2024

11th August, 2024

A beautiful evening for a birdwatching special, with the sun shining over a tranquil Axe Valley for the duration of the trip. 

As expected with the date, wading birds were well represented with up to eight Ringed Plover, ten Lapwing, three Common Sandpiper, one Dunlin, one Greenshank and one Whimbrel seen.  The Ringed Plovers certainly tested everyone’s eyesight with their amazing ability to almost melt into the mud!

Prolonged views of a fishing Kingfisher on the main Estuary was appreciated by everyone, with the brilliant blue back dazzling in the evening sunshine.  Slightly less obliging was a single Barn Owl, which although didn’t show for long, it’s brief appearance outside its nesting box was enjoyed by all before it slunk back in.

Amongst the gulls on the Estuary, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull showed well with the Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a single juvenile Mediterranean Gull was with the Black-headed Gulls.

Small bird sightings were limited, with a couple of Stonechat, and small numbers of Goldfinches and Linnets seen.  Swallows, House and Sand Martin were feeding together allowing for great comparisons. 

In total 48 species of birds were recorded during the two-hour trip, along with several sightings of adult and young Foxes.

Species List - 11/08/2024
Mute Swan	Mediterranean Gull
Canada Goose	Lesser Black-backed Gull
Shelduck	Herring Gull
Teal	Yellow-legged Gull
Mallard	Great Black-backed Gull
Pheasant	Stock Dove
Cormorant	Woodpigeon
Little Egret	Barn Owl
Grey Heron	Kingfisher
Buzzard	Rook
Kestrel	Carrion Crow
Water Rail (heard only)	Swallow
Moorhen	Sand Martin
Oystercatcher	House Martin
Lapwing	Cetti's Warbler (heard only)
Ringed Plover	Reed Warbler
Dunlin	Wren (heard only)
Black-tailed Godwit	Blackbird
Whimbrel	Robin
Curlew	Stonechat
Common Sandpiper	House Sparrow
Greenshank	Pied Wagtail
Redshank	Goldfinch
Black-headed Gull	Linnet