The last week has seen the rather undramatic arrival of migrants - a steady trickle compared to last year's bumper days.  Though less dramatic it has meant that most days have held some interest with new birds being found on site.

Heavy rain on 15th April felt like it should have delivered gulls and terns but instead brought down a fall of wagtails with at least 30 Yellow Wagtails (including another Blue-headed Wagtail) and 3 White Wagtails with the usual Pied Wagtails.  Always a delight to witness even if the rest of the site felt quiet.  Earlier in the day a single Wheatear had been found along side the main pit.

The next day saw the arrival of a singing Lesser Whitethroat in the hedgerow bordering Coopers Green Lane and this was still singing at the time of writing on 20th April.  A pair of  Wheatears were found in the freshly ploughed restored areas on 17th and these were joined by a third bird - a female - on 20th.

Some passage was in evidence on 19th April with a Greenshank found early morning that later appeared to relocate to Tyttenhanger GPs.  The afternoon saw the first Hobby of the year over the site along with a passing Common Tern.  The next day saw another or possibly the same Greenshank hidden at the far end of the main pit along with another Hobby over high.  A singing Sedge Warbler joined the Lesser Whitethroat at the track entrance taking the site year list to 112 species for 2025.

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.