Is it that time already...

I was out early this morning after yesterday's rain. It was bright and clear early on, but things are beginning to feel different. You cant quite put your finger on it yet, but slowly, change is in the air. Maybe its the sounds, the light or the smells or all of them but I know that within a couple of weeks summer will be over.

On the wires, swallows and martins gathered, stretching and chattering in preparation for a long journey, a first for the majority of them. 

Up at Low Newton, a selection of warblers included Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat, while on the scrapes, 14 Black tailed Godwit, a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Ruff were with a number of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Oystercatcher and Lapwing. A Gadwall, was with her brood on the main pond while sneaking about on the reed edge was an early Wigeon.  

Chiffchaff After some discussion with Ian Fisher, it looks like this bird is actually a Willow Warbler. My sloppy observations, having seen another 3 chiffs in the same area, I just assumed this was one too. Must look closer... 

Willow Warbler

Whitethroat

Gadwall and familiy

 Next stop was Foxton Bends and the Aln Estuary. Here 5 Little Egrets, 2 Greenshank and a few Common Sands were nice but we were soon off down to the Coquet Estuary.

Although there were no scarce waders, it is looking good, with 117 Dunlin, 250+ Redshank, 17 Knot, 4 Sanderling and a Greenshank amongst others. More phylloscs were around the braid car park

Even the butterflies looked autumn today. In the garden were 3 Peacock, 3 Large White, 1 Green veined White, 1 Wall and a first...a Small Skipper! Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshells were along at Low Newton.

If the weather is favourable, passerine migration could be on the cards for next weekend...

Red Admiral, a lot fresher than the last one photographed....