Ardley ERF - Second half 2024
After a really good first half of the year on the Ardley patch, the hope for a good autumn on the wader-front well and truly materialised. After Redshank and Greenshank in June and July the goods kept on coming at regular intervals. It was pretty much one out one in as the passage period progressed. The water levels on the lagoon were ideal and continued that way through late summer into early autumn. Common sandpipers were pretty regular from early July onwards, usually individuals but three together on 11th July was the most I've had here in one go. Another species on the radar in July was Black-tailed godwit, and lo and behold JFT found a couple on 23rd. I headed over on the afternoon he found them expecting they wouldn't hang about but, I need not have worried as they stayed for a few days. Green sandpiper numbers build in July and into August. Ardley is clearly an important site for them on migration and it's easy to get a bit blasé about them. I think 11 was the peak...