Pennington - Thurs 25th September

Highlights were Eider, Kingfisher, Knot and Wheatear.

There was a hint of migration this morning as we walked around in the sunshine, but not many waders around. As we walked to Fishtail Lagoon Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits were flying over and we saw a Kestrel hunting over the long grass and scrub. On Fishtail there were quite a few ducks, mostly in their drab eclipse plumage – Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, and a few Gadwall, Wigeon and 1 Pintail. A Wheatear was seen on the grass by the lagoon, but the only waders were Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher. On the saltmarsh we saw a few Curlew and there was a Great-crested Grebe and 3 Brent Geese on the sea.
Further along there were many Wigeon and Coot on Butts Lagoon and a Kingfisher zoomed past. We saw a second Kingfisher on the jetty which gave much better views. Dennis spotted 3 Eider on the sea and some rusty palings were being used as a roosting stage by several Turnstone. The lagoons east of Butts Lagoon held a few more waders with some Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank and another few Wheatear along the coast path here. The shingle island had quite a few roosting waders including groups of Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher and a few Knot. There were also more Brent Geese and a Great Black-backed Gull. On the way back the walk through the fields and woods gave us Skylarks, Buzzard, Long-tailed Tit and Greenfinch.
Simon Curson.