TIME: 14:30 - 17:00
WEATHER: Warm, sunny
EQUIPMENT: Opticron Savanna binoculars and my new Opticron telescope
SPECIES SEEN:New Life Tick - 1 Hobby flying round eating insects!
Possible Life Tick - I'm only half-certain on this, but I saw what I thought was a couple of Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the reservoir. It had sharp black/white markings on back, and buff plumage covering the whole head and from the throat down, petering out just above the legs. Smallish black, straight bill. Another possibility is female Ruff, but upon consulting the Collins Bird Guide, Buff-breasted was the closest visual match...... is B-b'd Sandpiper likely to be wishful thinking?
OTHER SPECIES SEEN:Marsh Harrier - female out over the Wash
Sparrowhawk - seen on the way back
Great Crested Grebe - 2 on Wash, far out
Little Grebe - 15, highest count for Freiston
Pink-footed Goose - 1 on reservoir
Canada Goose - usual group of about 30 near reservoir
Mute Swan - 1 on lagoon, 1 on reservoir
Mallards - usual near car park, second group on lagoon
Cormorant - 1
Little Egret - 2 on reservoir
Moorhen - 3 on lagoon
Curlew - some out on the wash
Redshank - around lagoon and on mudflats
Golden Plover - flocks on mudflats
Greater Black-backed Gull - 3 on mudflats
Black-headed Gull - usuals everywhere
Herring Gull - few calling in distance
Still plenty of swallows and martins flying around wetlands
Pied Wagtail - 4 round reservoir, 1 on path to reservoir
Goldfinch - 2 flocks
Great Tit - 2
Blue Tit - 1
Tree Sparrow - group congregated round feeders
House Sparrow - 20
Starling - round feeders, lagoon, reservoir
Jackdaw - 5
Magpie - 3
Usual Collared Doves and Woodpigeons.
FRUSTRATION: Not seeing the Red-necked Phalarope despite copious searching and scanning with scope
But hey, I saw my first Hobby, and perhaps one more lifer......
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