Saturday 29 August 2009

Migrant Photo Essay

I have just come back from the best morning I can remember on Wanstead Flats. The patch rules. This morning's haul is another Redstart, a Yellow Wagtail, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Tree Pipit, 10 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, and a multitude of common Warblers including Lesser Whitethroat. I am in a state of semi-shock. There is no point trying to make the blog interesting this morning, to add a tale of domesticity, or to give my thoughts on something irrelevant. This morning's fare will be a traditional birding blog - a list of birds that I saw. I said I would never do this, but this morning I can't think of anything to say other than "I saw all these birds and they were great". I could sign-off at this point, but I had a camera...


"I am a Willow Warbler, I think. I could be a Chiffchaff. I am confused about my identity"

"I am a Whitethroat. I am certain of it"



Tree Pipit, one of two this morning. Helpfully they called.

Another Redstart, found by Stuart, another birder



There are four Whinchats in this photo, and there were as many as twelve overall across the Flats. Yes, wow.


There were seven of these together, although I only saw five. I was happy with five.

The morning will be remembered for these though.

2 comments:

  1. Wow. Great photos.

    I had a day like this outside Leeds late August in the 80's - the same mix of species, and loads of Whinchats. Every time I checked another hedgerow or field there seemed to be more migrants. 20 years later it remains my favourite day's birding.

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