Local birding: Brockholes Wetland LWT - 21st Aug 2009.

Six hours on the patch today was rewarded with an Osprey in the area, showing on+off from 12:05-14:27 when it finally appeared to head off S/SE in improving weather. The juv Garganey remains for the 21st day, 1+ Green Sandpiper in the area and LRP heard. A f/imm Merlin flying south at 15:10 was the first of the autumn.

S. Yorks/Notts - 19-20th August 2009.

18th Aug: This imm Spoonbill flew in to Eddersthorpe Flash shortly after I had set up my scope and tripod to begin searching for a Spotted Crake found earlier in the morning. No joy was had with the Crake in three hours, but the Spoonbill remained, 14 Black-tailed Godwits in two parties dropped in and out, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, a Garganey, and a family party of Yellow Wagtails were noted at this excellent site.

Next was a stop at Old Moor RSPB where the highlight was a juvenile Spotted Redshank from the Wath Ings Hide. The scrape here is in ideal condition with acres of wader mud in superb condition. If only Brockholes had quality mud like this!

Above: Juv Spotted Redshank, Old Moor RSPB - 19th Aug 2009.

Next stop was at Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint, Notts, late afternoon. Single Hobby and Peregrine were the highlight, with several Common Buzzard in the air.

20th August: Five hours at Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint was rewarded with a distant male Honey Buzzard late morning.

Local birding: Brockholes Wetland LWT , Lancs - 14th August 2009.

Above: Clouded Yellow, Brockholes Wetland LWT, Lancs, 14th Aug 2009. Presumably the 'yellow Butterfly sp.' seen briefly by Robin Shenton y/day.

Above & below: Juv Little Grebe, Brockholes Wetland LWT - 14th Aug 2009.

Above: Juv Garganey, Brockholes Wetland LWT, Lancs, 14th Aug 2009. Present for the 14th day.

Above: 3 juv Greenshank, Brockholes Wetland LWT - 9th Aug 2009.

Local birding: Brockholes Wetland LWT - 1st August 2009.

Above: Juv Garganey, Brockholes Wetland LWT - 1st Aug 2009. The second Garganey of the autumn at the site.

Above: Ad Common Tern, present for at least three hours in the morning.

Above: Whimbrel, Brockholes Wetland LWT - 1st Aug 2009.

5.5hrs in good conditions for grounding migrants resulted in 1 Common Tern, 6 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel and a good influx of early autumn wildfowl including a juv Garganey, 1pr Wigeon, ecl drake Shoveler and 7 Teal. Star bird however was a Honey Buzzard that flew SW in improving weather just as I was leaving. A description of the latter is now with the County Records Panel.