Who knows what it was but something imperceptible changed this last week and the expected autumn migrants began to appear.  Maybe it was heavy rain following a long, dry stable period of weather or maybe it was just the necessary passing of time but 24th August saw the arrival of a Sanderling on the puddle (formerly know as the main pit).

Having missed 3 or 4 birds in the Spring I was particularly pleased to catch up with this one.  It spent the (very wet) day feeding at the far end of the pit but gave good enough views for a short video:

It was joined later by a Greenshank and the day also saw a reasonable passage of martins and Swallows.

The following day saw the arrival of 2 Wheatears and 2 Whinchats and a small passage of Yellow Wagtails - all signs that things are moving in the right direction and that more will undoubtedly follow!

Starting with the 'low' and that is the inescapable fact that back-filling and 'restoration' work at the pits has continued apace.  The main pit has been drained using a pump system and just a couple of large puddles remain.  It is not clear yet how much of the pit they intend to backfill but at least half of it is ear-marked for re-landscaping.

It remains utterly baffling as to how this plan has been persisted with and, to me, appears to be a clear example of the absence of joined-up thinking.  The local farmers would have liked the water body preserved - they know they cannot farm this land as historically it has always collected water.  In addition, the local water company has been encouraging farmers to keep water on their land to avoid flooding downstream.  And yet, the gravel company has been told to persist with a plan of drainage and restoration involving pumping water off-site - something that, in all likelihood, will have to continue indefinitely.

All this while, an area rich in wildlife has been destroyed and the opportunity to create something really special for nature missed.  Of course, left to nature, that opportunity might return but once again, we as humans, seem set on fighting nature - to what end I don't know!

While water remains on site and large areas remain disturbed by diggers and the plough the attractiveness to birds and other wildlife continues at the site.  Passage this month has been slow but steady with the highlight a Wood Sandpiper on 12th August.

One or two Common Sandpipers have remained on site with varying numbers of Green Sandpipers.  Joining them occasionally have been up to 3 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, at least 5 Common Snipe and a single Greenshank.

Away from the water's edge a juvenile Peregrine has been practising hunting over the site and a couple of Grey Partridges have reappeared following the harvesting of the fields.

August is underway and expectations have risen with each day that passes for this is the month of movement!  Or at least we hope so!

The pits are sadly being rapidly filled in and re-landscaped but open water with muddy edges remain not to mention the scrubby areas and arable land.  Longer term heavy rain may restore some water areas but in the meantime hopefully the autumn will bring some good birds.

Today the first Common Gull - a juvenile - was with the growing numbers of Black-headed Gulls and a bright yellowy Willow Warbler was along the track.  Both are signs that birds are moving through, albeit just a trickle at the moment.  In addition, the first Ringed Plover of the autumn made an appearance and at least one Common Sandpiper remains on site with up to 3 in recent days.  Unusual in previous years, 2 Common Tern have been visiting the site most days - an adult with a juvenile bird.

The last few weeks have seen a good passage of both Green Sandpipers (up to 9) and Common Sandpipers along with a single Dunlin on 2nd Aug. In addition a couple of Barnacle Geese have been regularly with the Canada Goose flock along with up to 17 Egyptian Geese.  At least 2 different Marsh Harriers have been visiting the site and sightings may constitute even more birds if they are just passing through.  Up to 3 Hobbies and a Peregrine have also spent time hunting over the site, stirring up the flocks of other birds as they go.