Another good day out on the marsh although the early morning rain and a light south-easterly breeze hinted that it could have been better...
The highlights were: a calling Wood Sandpiper, 4 Shoveler, 4 Teal, m Corn Bunting, m Willow Warbler, Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Whimbrel, 3 immaculate Grey Plover, 12 Dunlin, Curlew, m & 2f Marsh Harriers, Hobby, 40 Swift, 6 Swallows, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Wigeon, 3 Cetti's Warblers, Cuckoo and 3 Avocet. Graham White found a mixed singer Chiffchaff - Willow Warbler. These are funny little creatures and are not necessarily hybrids as many seem to be Willows! It starts with a weird Chiffchaff type song before descending into a Willow crescendo. Failed to see it be it but could hear it along the road as I left tonight. Will look in the morning.
Whimbrel (Dave McGough)
8-5-13
I heard the WhiffWhaff too about 2 weeks back! but was a no show. Had me scratching my head though!
Heres another photo of the same taken at the same time of aiki, I wish I had caught it on video now.
www.rspb.org.uk/.../1351.IMG_5F00_8090.JPG
We found the mixed singer (Whiffwhaff!) too - in terms of structure and plumage it looked like Willow Warbler to me. 4.bp.blogspot.com/.../Willow+Warbler.jpg