Monday 27th August 2012 - The rest of August

Since coming back from Tenerife at the beginning of August, I've been out every weekend, flogging the patches and looking for that golden nugget. Needless to say, its been tough going again, and following on from a quiet July, its been a truly quiet summer all round. Things started to pick up a little towards the end of the month, but it was still low on the quality stuff. At the moment, getting a patch year tick signifies in a good day!
Saturday 11th August 2012 - Arrived back from Tenerife on the Friday, and following a slight pause to the proceedings in order to find which case had my bins and scope in, we were out in Staffs again. A visit to Branston Pits saw an adult Yellow-legged Gull as the highlight on an otherwise quiet visit. This being a patch year tick. Not many waders around, just two Green Sands and fourteen Curlew.

Adult YLG at Branston - 11/8/2012 

We called in at Blithfield on the way home to see the Ruddy Shelduck. That just about sums up the day.

Distant shot of Ruddy Shelduck in Tad 11/8/2012

Saturday 18th August 2012 - Something to go for at last in the shape of a fine flock of 24 Black Terns at Blithfield. We also found two Black-tailed Godwits in Tad Bay. One was much larger than the other. I did a bit of research and my book suggested Icelandic birds did show a size difference between the sexes. We also saw five Wigeon and the two Black Swans.

Three of the Black Terns north of the causeway 18/8/2012

On to Branston Pits next, and not a bad visit with ten Black-tailed Godwits, two Ruff, two Common Sandpipers, fifteen Curlew and sixteen Green Sandpipers.

Shoveler at BGP's 18/8/2012

One of the Black-tailed Godwits at BGP's 18/8/2012

Saturday 25th August 2012 - The final weekend of the month got off to a good start with a fly over Little Egret at Westport. Having been stuck on 99 for the year at Westport since 29th June, it was nice to finally get my 100th species of the year in the bag. I can relax now but I don't think I'll be adding too many more to that total. After a visit to Berryhill, we wandered down to Branston as per usual. Highlights were a Spotted Flycatcher, sixteen Blackwits, fifteen Curlew, a Hobby and twelve Green Sandpipers.

Peacocks were showing well on the buddleia again at Branston 25/8/2012

The Spotted Fly at Branston 25/8/2012

And that was August. Not the best August in recent times. Roll on for the annual Autumnal fun and games.