The species, the numbers or the behaviour during the last 2½ weeks starts with the little Grebes still feeding their 2 young who are following their 'chosen' parent around while begging for food. The first Wigeon (2) arrived on 11th (CP) joining the Mallard,c60, (not counting the now flying release birds from the shooting club), Both Shovelers & Teal numbers increased overnight on the 26th.? with a count of 10 & c200, respectively, just over double of a day or 2 earlier. Numbers of Lapwing & Snipe fell back as the water levels rose. The Ruffs which were seen daily during the first week also departed as the water inundated their feeding areas, with the last sighting on 14th. The last Green Sandpiper for the month was the 11th. What was almost certainly a 1st winter Caspian Gull was present with 3 L.B.B. Gulls & c250 B.H.Gulls for just a few minutes on the 10^. A Curlew was heard, but not seen on both the 19th & 25th. Often, when only heard, the call is the result of usually a thrush sp copying the sound, much as starling do, but these calls sounded high.
Although small parties of departing swallows & martins moved down the valley usually around early evening, these seem to have fizzled out in the third week, the last 4 Swallows & a single House Martin on 23rd. Another 3 Whinchats have been seen on 11th, 12th & 22nd plus a ‘fall’ of Stonechats, with 3 on the 26th, the same day that 2 Pink-feet arrived with 18 Greylags, a party of 8 Mistle Thrushes, still present the following day and finally 2 Yellowhammers, also on 26th, the first ones since April.