17th Aug 2016

Sorry for the slow updates so far this week, I haven't had the time to digest the sightings let alone blog about them! Autumn migration is well and truly here now and a visit at anytime could through up a surprise or two.

On Monday morning Colin and Steve were out and found our first Common Redstart of the autumn, an adult male, in the hedge between the water treatment works and the cattle field. An area John and I now refer to as 'Redstart corner'. They also had the first Yellow Wagtail of the autumn on the pontoon. The number of warblers around is becoming more obvious and I'm sure many are migrants. The numbers of Canada Geese are steadily building and the reservoir banks are getting covered in feathers.

Warblers courtesy and copyright of Mike Pollard

Monday lunchtime John had a big gathering of gulls including a near adult Yellow-legged Gull, adult Herring Gull and adult Common Gull. A couple of Swifts went over too. In the evening he had an adult Yellow-legged Gull and almost certainly two Redstarts. A Painted Lady and a Fox cub were also seen.

Above and below Courtesy and copyright of John Friendship-Taylor

Steve had another Yellow Wagtail on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon Colin found an adult Black-tailed Godwit at the reservoir, which was around till early evening when Mike saw it. Colin also later had a Green Sandpiper circle around twice which left to the north. Three Common Gulls graced the reservoir but there was not a lot more gull wise today.

Godwit pictures courtesy and copyright of Mike Pollard

Wednesday lunchtime John had a juvenile Med Gull drop in briefly, which is definitely a different individual from the last few times. In the evening John and I walked up and found Colin already there. Huge numbers of gulls were coming through and an adult Yellow-legged left as we got there and an adult Common came in briefly. John picked out a Hobby feeding really high over the reservoir too. A Yellow Wagtail was around but went away heard and not seen.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT