Is the old patch the new patch?

Years ago my local patch, or one of them, was Ogura; an expanse of arable land and rivers just south of town. This area has been steadily degraded by development over the years but is still an important birding location close to the city. I've found some excellent birds here such as Little Whimbrel, Whiskered Tern, Hoopoe, Black Redstart, Middendorff's Warbler and so on.

I've only visited the area infrequently in the past 10 years or more because it's been a hassle to get there by public transport. However I decided to drive down from my new house and was delighted to find not only did it only take 10 minutes but I'm able to get there far earlier in the morning than than trains permit. So it looks like Ogura is back on the menu.

I didn't see anything spectacular, I didn't expect to, but having easy access to a good area is a big encouragement to get into the field before work. Hopefully it won't be too long before it starts paying dividends.

If anything were a surprise it would have been three Common Greenshank and a Dunlin on one of the rivers. The resident but low density Chestnut-eared Bunting was nice, a couple of late-ish Stejneger's Stonechats showed migrants are still possible and Eurasian Kestrel, Northern Goshawk hinted at the raptors to come in winter. The first local Dusky Thrush and Daurian Redstart were already in but as yet no Rooks or Daurian Jackdaws.

A few of today's birds...

Common Greenshank

Dunlin

Common Snipe

Northern Goshawk

Two Stejneger's Stonechats

First autumn lugens White Wagtail