Monday 24th August 2015

Today's sightings following another circular walk around Castle Lake.

Castle Lake - Waders starting to dominate, not surprising given the time of year and the current water levels providing excellent habitat, a very good count of twelve different species on view this morning; 3 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Ringed Plover (mix of adults and juveniles), 20 Golden Plover (not often seen here in August), c300 Lapwing, 28 Ruff, 6 Dunlin, 3 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Curlew, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper (below and to the right of the hide) and 1 Common Sandpiper. (Some of the above were favouring the small pond in the south-west corner of Castle Lake, but are easily flushed by passing walkers).
Others on offer included 50+ Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Common Buzzard, 175 Black-headed Gull and 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Alan's Pool continues to pull in waders despite its close proximity to a public right of way, 9 Ruff and 3 Black-tailed Godwit were present mid-morning.

Juvenile Ruff on Alan's Pool this morning, one of the most approachable and least spooked species of wader.

Assuming the nine birds at Alan's Pool were not part of the group seen on Castle Lake earlier then at least 37 different Ruff were around, definitely a new record count for Bishop Middleham.

Poor record picture of two of the Black-wits on Alan's Pool.