There were 6 Swift over W lake in the rain this morning, and a couple of Sand Martins, and what sounded like a juv Green ‘Pecker calling somewhere behind W lake.

Looks like the rain brought down a few Phylloscs this morning. Party of about 6 Willow Warblers feeding with Long-t Tits near the far entrance to Cogan Wood [beyond the dragonfly wood], a couple of Chiffies by the dragonfly pond and another by the main boardwalk. Ad GC Grebe carrying chicks was on E lake near the bridge.

Still around 20 Sand Martins around the old dock by Dr. Who. 8+ Pied Wags on the barrage, and endless people gawping at their ‘phones looking for Pokemons!

The Cosmeston GC Grebes definitely have 3 chicks. Have now ventured away from the nest and were in the middle of W lake this morning riding on the adult’s back. Let’s hope they survive.

Not news really – this is a test post to try & answer a technical question I have been asked re posting photos. Anyway these are the pr of GC Grebes at Cosmeston – 2 chicks clearly visible but poss 2 more underneath mum – if they are these have hatched after the other two. Would have though all eggs hatched more or less simultaneously.

The GC Grebe pair still have 2 young but there cd possibly be 2 more later hatched ones [I was told that there might be 2 more eggs there]. The young are staying either on mum’s back or the nest altho’ apparently did venture into the adjacent water this morning. Mute Swan pair still have 2 well-grown cygnets [out of 7 originally]. 5 Tufted Ducks on E lake this morning.

GBC trip this morning, highlights were at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Dippers by the road bridge near Peterston-super-Ely, a fly-over Hobby, many Song Thrush, GS Pecker, Whitethroat with food, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Stock Dove, 20 or so Sand Martin still around the river, plus Swallow and House Martin, Chiffchaff and other common spp. Sadly we found 2 dead recently fledged Pheasant chicks with no sign of serious injury – 1 seemed very recently dead [still warm and it hadn’t been lying in the sun]. A Green Sandpiper was seen briefly along one of the river ‘meanders’. Also what was later ID’d as a Four=spotted Chaser dragonfly of the form praenubila which has dark terminal bands on the wings giving a Demoiselle-like appearance.

13 Black-headed Gulls on W lake posts – a sign of autumn. Also 1 and and 1 juv Grey Heron there. There were 2 ads and 2 juvs 2 days ago and I’m pretty sure they bred in the W lake reed bed. The GC Grebe is still sitting and I couldn’t make out any sign of chicks. The Mute Sawn pair seem to be down to 2 cygnets which are quite large now, so it’s difficult to see how they lost another as there were 3 only a few days ago. 20-30 Swift over W lake plus a few Sand Martin and a House Martin. Greenfinch singing by W paddock and a Chiffchaff near Cogan Wood, and also a small flock of Goldfinch nr the dragonfly pond.

9-10 a.m. 50 or so Swift over W lake plus 10 Sand Martin and a few House Martin.

pretty quiet bird-wise. A couple of Blackcaps singing, 20 or so Sand Martin, 2 House Martin and 6 Swift over W lake, ad Heron ‘sunning’ in a tree by W lake, 2 Song Thrush singing. GCG still incubating – shouldn’t be long now until hatching. Leps comprised plenty of Ringlets, 2 Commas, Meadow Brown. 1 Emperor dragonfly at the dragonfly pond.

Sun 3rd there was a single Tufted Duck on W lake – a sign of autumnal movement? A Common Whitethroat was in bushes in the dovecote field and a Song Thrush singing, 1 Buzzard, 10 Swift, 16 Canada Geese, 4 Cormorant, GC Grebe still incubating, Green ‘Pecker calling nr the dragonfly pond. Mon 4th, more Swift feeding up, 3 Song Thrushes noted.

Highlight in the rain this morning was 11 Mistle Thrushes feeding in W paddock. Also a few Swift and Sand Martin feeding over W lake.

The Mute Swan pair seem to have lost 2 of their 7 cygnets. Good to see the GCG pair now have another clutch after the first was taken by a terrapin. Also present this morning c.20 Sand Martins and 10 Swift over W lake, and Common Whitethroat still singing by W paddock hedge. An ad and a juv Heron were by W lake shore. O/W pretty quiet.

Apologies for non-sighting. Just a heads up that due to zero uptake I have cancelled tomorrow’s GBC trip to Somerset Levels. Will try to re-schedule if I have time.

A Kingfisher did a couple of circuits over W lake this morning, viewed from the bridge. A pair of GC Grebes were starting a nest in the middle of W lake ‘bay’, where one failed last year due to fluctuating water levels. 2 Buzzard over Cogan Wood, plenty of Reed Warblers singing, plus Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s and a Whitethroat. A lone imm Black-headed Gull over E lake was a little unseasonal, and 2 Swift flew S over W paddock. Also had Reed Bunt carrying food near the cafe boardwalk and ditto Blackbird pair by the dipping pool.

The GBC Big Birding Day today at KNNR was successful if a little windy! Thanks to all who attended/helped/participated. 2 guided walks were taken – the first to the pool where the stars were 9 Whimbrel in E pool fields and a White Wagtail, although the latter was only seen by Paul Denning who came with us. The second walk with 19 people went out to Sker Farm and Sker Pt. Sadly with the tide out, the putative American Golden Plover had gone from near Sker Pool and was probably out on the rocks somewhere but could not be found. The howling gale out there didn’t help! 14 more Whimbrel out there tho’ and a few Turnstone and some distant Sanderling on Sker beach. All in all a nice day. Brief report and some pix on the web site via the newsflash on the home page.

Don’t forget to come tomorrow. KNNR 10 a.m. onwards. Guided walks, ringing demo, Mrs. Wilson’s exceedingly good cakes, plant sale, kids activities, a ‘Big Sit’ to see what birds can be seen from a single spot near the reserve centre, and much more.

The American Golden Plover is still at Sker this morning, by Sker Pool [near Sker Farm] – per text news and Twitter. Presumably the bird that was at Angle Bay, Pembs recently. Shortest walk is from KNNR via the track over the golf course to Sker Farm. Have commitments today sadly 😦

News just transpired this eve. A juv American Golden Plover was on grass between Sker Pt and Sker Pool at 09:30. Only just ID’d retrospectively from video grab [Neil Donaghy].

Only highlight from a quick whizz round with the hound this morning was a Common Sandpiper which flew under the main bridge from E lake to W lake as I crossed.