August 2005 |
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An early evening trip to Chew Valley Lake on 10 August. The water level is very low now. At Stratford I saw 4 little egrets (below) and a goldeneye. At Heron's Green Pool there were 4 green sandpipers and a water rail. I also photographed this heron fishing there.
We processed 138 greater horseshoe bats at Woodchester on 14 August. Adult and juvenile below.
Baloons from the baloon festival flew over Chew Valley lake. Although they looked pretty, they caused pandemonium among the birds there.
Waders were starting to move towards the end of the month. Highlights included 4 ruff, 14 ringed plover, dunlin, common sandpiper and an adult pectoral sandpiper at Meare Heath on 20th. Lots of interesting waders at Newport Wetlands Goldcliff on 21st, including 2 wood sandpipers, 2 green sandpipers, 2 little ringed plover, 2 greenshank, 3 avocets, 3 curlew sandpipers. Two yellow wagtail also seen, and a lot of sand martins moved through. I was in Galway, Ireland for the 10th European Bat Research Symposium between 21-26 August. I travelled around the Burren on the rest day.
Hooded crows were widespread, with some hybrids with carrion crows also present. The bird highlight was the first LAUGHING GULL that I've seen this side of the Atlantic. The bird is in moult between first summer and second winter plumages, and was providing good views at Waterside in Galway on 23 August.
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