Spent over three hours down on the marsh this afternoon and
the Shrike no show today. The Thames has risen more and the water is now
roughly one hundred metres along Ferry Rd and most of the marsh is under water
again. I laid a small marker stone down at the water’s edge when I arrived and
by the time I left it was submerged and the water was around six centimetres
beyond it so the water is still rising.
A few birders on and off this afternoon but most were put
off by the weather conditions as the wind was howling across the marsh and the
Shrike not showing. Difficult conditions also for trying to find the Shrike as
the riverbank is mainly inaccessible now and that is the only pathway on the Cholsey
side and if it is the other side of the Thames then it will probably not be
seen from the Cholsey side until the water subsides.
The Cetti’s Warbler
appeared briefly and a Water Rail
seen to swim across Ferry Rd. Twenty plus Teal
arrived early on and landed at the northern end and during the afternoon around
thirty Common Snipe in small groups
(or wisps as a visiting birder poetically put it yesterday) arrived. A few small flocks of Fieldfare
and Redwing flew over and a ♂ Sparrowhawk flew through, a couple of Buzzard and Red Kite and
that was about it.
No sign of any Corn Bunting this evening so maybe they have
an alternative roosting strategy or site in the weather conditions that were prevalent
this evening, the wind was battering the Phragmites area where they normally
roost.......or did they arrive after dark?
Several Reed Bunting
seen to roost in the Sedge.
Please note, there is no access on the marsh...Thanks
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