Local update September

Still three Spotted Flycatchers around at the start of the month but they had moved to the trees bordering the Cornfield NR although the few remaining Sand Martins had gone by the end of the first week, bird of the month and patch tick was a fine Black Tailed Godwit on Clifton Ings on the 7^th, it flew off with a group of Wood Pigeons and Corvids that had been feeding around some of the cattle as I was approaching along the flood bank but dropped back down a bit further in where it probed around for three or four mins before flying off South. When I got back off holiday in the latter half of the month there were still quite a few feeding flocks moving around but the only Warblers with them were Chiffchaffs and there was a definite increase in Robins and Thrushes, none of the far Northern ones yet though, a bit of movement included three Cormorants high over East on the 20^th with a few Sky Larks over the next day and many of the Swallows seen during this period seemed to be heading South although there were still a few around along with the House Martins at the months end.

Clifton Ings, north end

Spotted Flycatcher by the Cornfield NR

Grey Herons on the Ings, not often I get them stood out in the middle

or indeed sat on top of a hedge

Black Tailed Godwit, bird of the month

Clifton Park

young Pheasants in the Allotments