Farlington - 14 Aug

The weather was hot and sunny. Highlights were Greenshank, Knot, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper.

As it was low tide when we started out we walked clock-wise round the reserve so that we would be overlooking the lagoon at high tide when the waders would be coming in to roost there. The lagoon by the information hut had a few Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Gadwall and Teal with several Emperor dragonfly whizzing about. As we walked to the sea wall we saw a few butterflies, several Common Blue, a Small Heath and a Small or Essex Skipper. The first waders we saw from the sea wall were several Greenshank and 2 Whimbrel – a good start! Further on there were some Grey Plover looking great in their summer plumage and a few Dunlin with 1 Ringed Plover. Looking at the small lagoons here there was Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and a Brent Goose. Neil found a Common Sandpiper wandering around on the mud and there was a female Reed Bunting on the fence in front of us. As we walked further round the sea wall we saw more Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Little Egrets, a Wheatear and a Small Copper butterfly. We got to the lagoon where the waders come into roost, but it was pretty quiet. A small flock of Redshank, a flock of Black-tailed Godwit, some Canada Geese and a few Dunlin. After a while a large flock of Grey Plover did fly in and we found a Knot with the Dunlin. David also found a second Wheatear on the path here. A great walk in beautiful weather.
Simon Curson