Local Western Yar Patch List - Week beginning 3rd September

When I was out along the Western Yar Estuary today, several people stopped to ask me what species were around. As a result, I'm going to have a go at making a weekly species list for this, my local patch. I hope it will encourage non-birders visiting this popular area to have a go at seeing what's around. The main focus will be the birds, and it will be interesting to see how the list changes over the year. I'm giving it a go this week, updating it daily....then I'll be away for a fortnight in France!

Monday
Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Mute Swan - Group of 9, plus family of 2 adults & 5 juveniles at Yarmouth doing well.
Canada Goose - Large flock regularly dropping in to feed. (69)
Eurasian Wigeon - eclipse male north of Causeway; first of season.
Eurasian Teal (115 - numbers building up!).
Mallard - 5 juveniles by Yarmouth Station.
Pheasant
Little Grebe - including families of 2 & 3 juveniles and 2 & 2 juveniles at Station Pond. (15 including 4 juveniles)
Grey Heron - 2.
Little Egret - 7.
Cormorant
Sparrowhawk
Common Buzzard - 7 soaring together over wood on west side of estuary.
Kestrel

Peregrine Falcon - one over Rofford Marsh.

Water Rail - squealing south of Freshwater Causeway.
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher (3 - Mill Basin)
Grey Plover - 2. (3) (3)
Northern Lapwing (14)
Dunlin - 1 regular individual feeding at Yarmouth Mill Basin at low tide. (1) (2)
Common Snipe - Station Pool.
Black-tailed Godwit - 100; (100) (94) (92)
Eurasian Whimbrel - 1 at Yarmouth Mill Basin.
Eurasian Curlew - (15) (19)
Common Sandpiper - 3. (3) (1)
Greenshank - (3) (2)
Common Redshank - 34. (35)
Turnstone - 12 feeding amongst seaweed close to Yarmouth bridge.
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Sandwich Tern
Rock Dove
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Kingfisher - 1 at Yarmouth Station River. (1 - as previously)
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven - 3 over estuary calling.
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Skylark - Rofford Marsh area.
Swallow - good numbers heading south.
House Martin
Cetti's Warbler - Calling south of Freshwater Causeway.
Long-tailed Tit
Common Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blackcap (1)
Common Whitethroat (2)
Wren
Goldcrest - Mill Copse.
Treecreeper
Starling (35)
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush - 7 flying over.
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 on dead tree south of Freshwater Causeway; 1 Gasworks Lane.
Robin
Common Redstart - 1 female in Scrape hedge; 1 female western footpath.
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Pied Wagtail
Chaffinch
Greenfinch 
Goldfinch
Linnet
Bullfinch

76 species. (Green Sandpiper & Garden Warbler also reported on Tuesday by Derek)
This week has seen lots of evidence of migrants passing through as the migration season heads towards its peak. The bushes have been chockful of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers & Whitethroats! Where are the Song Thrushes?

Other:

Mammals - Rabbit; Red Squirrel ('Squirrel Copse'); 2 south of Squirrel Copse; 1 Mill Copse; Common Pipistrelle; Common Shrew.
Dragonflies - Southern Hawker; Migrant Hawker; Common Darter.
Butterflies - Common Blue; Red Admiral; Speckled Wood; Meadow Brown; Small White; Green-veined White; Holly Blue; Comma.
Hoverflies - Baccha elongata; Episyrphus balteatus; Cheilosia pagana; Eristalis pertinax; E. tenax; E. arbustorum; E. intricaria; Helophilus pendulus; H. trivittatus. (these were basically noted from the bike, mainly on Sea Aster).