Quick look over Plex Moss this afternoon reaped dividends after the weekly shop nightmare - torrential rain battered the fields, but tremendously, I came across another trip of 13 Dotterels in the same field as earlier in the week.
Seven females in with 'em as they sheltered from the pummelling rain...watched 'em for about 20 mins then put the news out on Birdline Ted again.
At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, please stay in your cars while watching these birds, they really are flighty.
They fluttered across the track a few times into the ploughed field on the other side of the road, but generally returned to the long furrowed field to the north of Plex Moss Lane.
Even lolloping Brown Hares and Lapwings spooked 'em.
Presumably the remnants of the flock earlier in the week, but with the downpour, they could just be a new trip forced down by the weather.
Impossible to get decent pix, as the wind was shaking the car and the rain was really battering down, but these birds are so cool, who cares?
Watched 'em for an hour or so, then had to head home with the rapidly defrosting shopping in the boot.
28 Dotterels in total on Plex in a week - not bad at all!
Few Wheatears out there too, but it was really another fabulous Dotterel afternoon!
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Lifeboat Rd this morning 100 + Siskins all flying south in separate flocks - any ideas where they are going?
There were that many I lost count in the end.
Dotterels still out on Plex this morning during my bike ride!
Hi John,
A trip of 17 Dotterel on Plex early evening about 5-30.
Still plenty of Wheatear around and a Merlin, it was nice to see so many Lapwings with chicks.
Hi JD
Dotties flew back into the stubble field about 6.30 this evening, pretty hard to spot once they'd landed.
But as it was the 4th time I'd been out this weekend I persisted and counted about 12 but there could have been more.
Whimbrel and wheatear a plenty as well.
Thanks for the tip!!! or is that 'trip' ??
Latest from Downholland/Plex, May 1-10:
May 1st: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 4 Tufted Duck; 56 Whimbrel; 1 White Wagtail; 1 Whinchat; 21 Wheatear; 1 Reed Warbler; 2 Sparrowhawk.
May 2nd: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 6 Shelduck; 43 Whimbrel; 20 Wheatear; 2 Sedge Warbler; 1 Reed Warbler; 2 Swift.
May 4th: 1 Canada Goose; 22 Shelduck; 51 Whimbrel; 16 Wheatear; 1 Reed Warbler.
May 5th: 2 Canada Goose; 2 Tufted Duck; 2 Grey Partridge; 16 Wheatear; 34 Whimbrel.
May 6th: 1 Great Crested Grebe; 9 Wheatear; 26 Whimbrel.
May 7th: 4 Tufted Duck; 12 Wheatear; 13 Whimbrel; 30 Common Swift.
May 8th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Goose; 1 Barn Owl; 1 Sand Martin; 23 Wheatear; 1 Raven; 27 Whimbrel.
May 9th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 7 Tufted Duck; 1 Dunlin; 1 Common Sandpiper; 1 Barn Owl; 1 White Wagtail; 64 Wheatear; 15 Dotterel; 20 Whimbrel.
May 10th: 3 Tufted Duck; 26 Whimbrel; 1 Barn Owl, 48 Wheatear; 2 Reed Warbler; 13 Dotterel.