Up to end of July

A Redshank found by Adrian on the 10th was a great find and the first here for a couple of years. The other highlight was a few Mediterranean Gull sightings of at least two birds in the last couple of days of the month (John and Mike P), two Common Terns also on the 10th (GB), a Hobby on the 11th (John), 

A Siskin made an appearance on the 11th (John) and through mid to the end of the month there was also a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls. Other waders still present with singles of Little Ringed Plover and a few Common Sandpipers. Hirundines and Swifts featured regularly. The Cetti's Warbler and some other commoner warblers were around. The family of Tufted Ducks were still present at month end and two more broods were at the Borrow Pit pool. 

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

Hobby pics courtesy and copyright of JFT

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

5th Jul 2020: Autumn already?!

Following the end of spring migration, summer arrived and also zipped by all in the matter of a few weeks! I know that technically it is still summer, but someone please tell the birds as we are are experiencing Autumn migration already!

On the 16^th June Jim had 2 Little Ringed Plovers and one Ringed Plover (was that a late one or an early one?).

John had a White-legged Damselfly on the 17th. This is great news as we know they are definitely still here, but no one else has seen any since so the population must be very low. I expect this is a result of the river being drained a few years ago, but I haven't got enough knowledge of Damselfly ecology to back this up.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

On the 25^th Mike saw a juvenile Black-headed Gull and confirmed that Tufted Ducks had nested at the reservoir by finding a female with five ducklings. This is a great record and no doubt a result of the reduced disturbance and that the grass around the reservoir hasn't been cut so far this year.

There were only four Tufted Ducklings left on the 28th, but so far (up to today) those four seem to be doing well. 

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

On the 29^th John had three Little Ringed Plovers.

Mike was up on the 1st and found five Common Sandpipers and three Little Ringed Plovers. John also had Essex Skipper and Marbled Whites in the meadow.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

John saw a Grass Snake on the 2nd.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

John had our first returning Yellow-legged Gull of the summer on the 3rd. An individual that only has one leg and has been seen at both Draycote and Farmoor over the last month or so. 

Courtesy and copyright of Dave Fuller

On the 4^th John had the same Yellow-legged again and a Polish ringed Black-headed Gull (Yellow ring with the code T2YX).

This morning, my visit was very quiet except for three Siskin that flew over as I was leaving. I called back in this evening and there were two Yellow-legged Gulls (including the one legged one) and a Herring Gull.