Holmethorpe Sand Pits, Surrey .... Monday 16th August 2010

An early(-ish) start at the local patch produced the first Wood Sandpiper for this year at Spynes Mere.
This is only the 7th record for Holmethorpe, the last being three years ago.
Today's bird stayed until just before 10 a.m. when the Lapwings it was associating with took fright and it flew up with them.
It circled with the Lapwings, calling all the time, and when the Lapwings eventually settled back on the sand spit, the sandpiper continued to circle before flying off into the distance and heading off to the south. Fortunately, fellow local birders Gordon, Matt and Jerry also managed to get to see it before its departure.




Apart from two Teal, two Gadwall and three Common Snipe (plus the now regular Egyptian Geese, today numbering 13) there was little else of note about.
Warbler numbers have dropped off in the last few days, with only 3 Common Whitethroats and 2 Chiffchaffs noted today.

I decided to head for the Water Colour Lagoons and on arriving realised that there was little chance of much being present due to some workmen in dumpers trucks along the path between the lagoons.
I thought that, despite the disturbance, I would still have a quick look and it was a good job that I did as, on the island at Water Colour Lagoon 2, there was an adult Ringed Plover at the water's edge.


Graham