August update, part 1

As i haven't updated for the whole of august, i'll be doing a month update in seperate parts, as there's quite a lot! here goes then, part one!

My first trip out this month was to clifton grove on the 3rd of august. Had a good bike ride down the trent to get there, and i stopped about half way for a rest next to the river. As i was sat by the river, something caught my eye, a female sparrowhawk. I got my best ever views of one of these birds, as she hovered and dipped over the river, obviously trying to catch something, before landing on the opposite bank briefly, only to be chased off by a group of common terns. I got some shots, but as she was so quick i had to use manual focus and they didnt turn out very well... this is the best one (cropped and tweaked!)

At the patch itself there was a fair bit to see. In the brambles and on the seedheads of all the summers flowers, there were plenty of passerines, most notably whitethroats and reed buntings. On the crops (potatoes i think) which now cover the weir field there was a single juvenile yellow wagtail, which was making a racket, and again this is the best view of this species that i've had.

There were lots of birds in the hedges near the riverside chalets, mostly finches and sparrows, and as i walked round the field, there was a large group (50+) of swallows feeding over the field and coming to rest on the telephone wires. Also on this lane were a charm of goldfinches, feeding on the fluffy seedheads of the thistles on the verges. There must have been close to a hundred.

Walking on towards the woods again, i heard the unmistakeable caw of a Buzzard, and a large adult bird was located in the middle of a field on a hawthorn bush, calling loudly. I soon found out why, as there were 3 juveniles in the area, and another adult was seen on the ground amidst some long grass, presumably hunting for worms. I got great views of one of the juveniles flying above me, and experienced for the first time an odd contact call which sounded not dissimilar to a gull.

The next day was my birthday! I decided as everyone was at work to go on another bike ride, so i went to attenborough in hope of spotting some more passage migrants. I havent actually got much of a record of what i saw today so will have to try and remember. The highlight of the day was probably coming across a common tern on the overflow bridge which had decided to alight there to get out of the rain. it stayed put long enough for me to get a couple of decent shots, despite it tipping it down.

All was reasonably quiet down at the tower hide (apart from unruly kids closing all the windows and a very laissez-faire nana, who wouldnt tell them to calm down). After these left however i managed to get some peace and quiet and managed to finally get some decent views of a green sandpiper! There were also several little egrets about, and also a juvenile heron which has been seen on every visit recently, feeding on crayfish in the shallow water. There must be thousands of these as everytime i go down the egrets herons and gulls seem to be gorging themselves on these invasive crustaceans.

After my birthday i didnt go birding for over a week as there was celebrating to be done (mine and my friends birthday) and then i was moving house, very very stressful!!! Part 2 coming up!!!