A stochastic event interrupted Excel population modelling this afternoon, when a post lunch phone call arrived inviting me to join a friend at Blashford Lakes Reserve for some late afternoon birding in the shelter of the Tern and Goosander hides.
Shortly after arrival at the Tern hide I missed 3 little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) as they flew in and disappeared one to the south west and two east over the spit towards the gossander hide. Fortunately a single bird was picked up from the goosander hide a little later. 4 (poss 5) of these birds are now on site.
Around 16:30 I spotted a single barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) hawking amongst a small flock of sand martins (Riparia riparia) - the martin flock swelling in size to circa 120 birds over the next half hour.
Other highlights included a raft of goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) in total 33 on Ibsley Water, complete with displaying males, goosander (Merganser merganser) in very small numbers and 2 grey wagtails (Motacilla cinerea) feeding within meters of the Tern hide.
A large flock of m'ipits was misidentified as 20 water pipits in the Tern hide log book.
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