Passage.

When it comes to finding passage migrants, the Stutton part of Alton Water is hard work. Is it that it is sandwiched between the Stour and Orwell estuaries; the fact that it is chock-full of walkers, cyclists, dog-walkers (flagrantly breaching the 'Dogs on lead' bye-law) and boats, or perhaps there is a lack of suitable habitat. I am sure all three play a part to some degree.

With Black Terns starting to appear across the south-east and grumbly, heavy showers coming in from the south-west, I wasn't going to let all of what I said above put me off having a look at the first available opportunity this afternoon.

A quick scan from the end of Alton Hall Lane just before 3pm and it was clear that something was up. A small swarm of 500 hirundines was buzzing over the water. The Swallows were keeping low, whilst the House Martins seemed to favour a higher flight path. In amongst them were a couple of Swifts and Sand Martins. Foolishly, I had opted for binoculars and camera, leaving the telescope behind. After just two weeks, I am now finding it difficult to go anywhere without the camera. It was going to be no use for scanning through what was quite a distant flock in search of something more unusual. The rain soon came and I sought shelter in Larchwood Hide staring at nothing in particular. Once it had passed it was back up to the marina, where the number of swifts had increased to over 30 and I was fortunate to bump in to a couple of cracking Yellow Wagtails that permitted a close approach.

Above me on the dam was a tight flock of 120 House Martins, sounding rather pleased with themselves. When I looked at the grass slope, what I thought was smoke turned out to be a major emergence of midges. In the picture below, it is the grey smudge running diagonally down the slope above the short, wooden railing.

 

On the dam itself was one of two Common Sandpipers around the east end of the reservoir.

 

 

I didn't see any Black Terns, but you might have guessed that by now.