On July 15th, Johnny Allan and Peter Alfrey photographed an adult BLACK KITE over Beddington Farm as it drifted over before heading north early in the afternoon.
3 WOOD SANDPIPERS dropped in at Beddington yesterday and there is one there today. An impressive passage of Black-tailed Godwits took place at the site between June 28th and July 13th.
A fem/imm.RUDDY DUCK was there on July 9th only. A WHIMBREL was there early in the morning of July 16th before flying SW. Returning passerines started to show up with a juvenile COMMON REDSTART on July 22nd-23rd and Yellow Wagtails on July 14th, 25th (2) and 30th. 3 GARGANEY were present on the south lake on July 23rd and another from July 30th-August 2nd.
Highlights at Canons Farm have been few and far between. A flock of 9 CROSSBILLS flew over on July 10th and a Yellow Wagtail was present July 12th-13th. A Whinchat stayed for the day on July 28th and was joined by a juvenile Stonechat (the latter species also being noted on the 19th). Meadow Pipits were recorded on July 12th, 13th, 18th and 26th.
Holmethorpe was graced by a drake RED-CRESTED POCHARD on July 2nd and Common Terns, Common Sandpipers and Green Sandpipers were recorded regularly over the last month. 5 Redshanks were there on the 12th. Hobbies were seen occasionally throughout July. Juvenile Stonechats were logged on July 16th, 19th, 25th (2) and 28th. 2 Dunlin were at Mercers West Pit on July 18th.
Little has come out of other sites, but an early Wheatear at Farthing Downs on July 29th was noteworthy.
