?Spanish Wagtail (Alan Pearce)

Blue-headed Wagtail, Longham Lakes, 8 May 2012 (Alan Pearce)

Tuesday 8th May
Good birds keep turning up at Longham this spring. At around 11.00, this Yellow Wagtail type – possibly Spanish was seen, along with a couple of Shelduck and a decent passage of Swifts (Alan Pearce). Then, at lunchtime appropriately enough, a Sandwich Tern was seen on the pole opposite the pumping station on Longham Reservoir South, soon flying off towards Longham Bridge. Also present 2 possibly 3 Hobbies, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and a Wheatear. Sadly no sign of yesterday evening’s Garganey (George Green).

Monday 7th May
Today’s star bird was the first Garganey of the spring, a male seen during the evening. Also 3 drake Shoveler present suggesting duck passage is still continuing. Otherwise single Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper (George Green).

Saturday 5th May
At Longham Lakes today: Ruff 2 still present on island at north end of LR South; Little Ringed Plover 3 together on beach in NW corner of LR South; Whimbrel 5 flew from LR South to Hampreston Fields; Common Sandpiper 3+ around the lakes (George Green).

Friday 4th May
Early in the morning the Swallow passage was still going. “There were masses of swallows in dizzying numbers, I estimate more than a thousand” (Trevor Thorpe). 2 White Wagtail were on the large island together with 2 little Ringed Plover. I also counted 164 Tufted Duck, 7 Common Sandpiper and 36 Black-tailed Godwit. Later on, there were 2 Ruff still present on main island, 2 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers, 1 by small island at south end of LR South and 1 pair on beach in NW corner of LR South, 10+ Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 1 White Wagtail on main island at north end of LR South. Also still 00s of Swifts and 000s of hirundines, mostly Swallows (George Green).