22nd & 23rd Apr 2015 Reed Warbler

The last two days have been a mixture of both cloudy chilly weather and for the most part, yet more stunning sunshine. The bird life was of a very similar fare to recent days and despite many inland water bodies having decent sized groups of Arctic Terns, Little Gulls and a variety of waders, we seem to have been bypassed... so far!

Wednesday 22nd saw at least 2 Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and in the evening, a nice gathering of hirundines in gloomy, chilly conditions. The flock comprised around 40 House Martins and 10 Swallows. Other oddities from my visits in both morning and evening were an early morning Jay again and a 2nd-summer Herring Gull flying through.

Today the clear highlight was a Reed Warbler singing in riverside scrub right next to the car park. Gareth tells me the species is a bit of a patch mega and the first he has had since 2010! (Although there are more records from Tim Clark and others from the Upper Cherwell Valley). This is bird number 94 on the Grimsbury year list. 100 is looming!

Also on site, a male Whitethroat was in song, presumably another new arrival with the last and only sightings from back on the 16th.

There was another large flock of around 100 hirundines first thing, different to the one from the night before. These were mostly made up of Swallows, with a small smattering of Sand and House Martins. As is standard at the moment 2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Little Ringed Plover were also present.

John