The Species list stands at 151 so far for 2017
View list Here
If you would like to send any sightings to me for posting, you can at martynwilson@talktalk.net
August 6th
After many weekends without much to report, just the usual common and regular species! This weekend, although much the same, had a lot more on offer. Warblers were everywhere with plenty of activity from Reed and Sedge Warblers, many Whitethroats and at least 3 Lesser Whitethroats (a scarcity this summer) plus, a dozen or more migrant Chiffchaffs and upwards of 20 fresh lemon yellow Willow Warblers that seemed to have arrived overnight. At least Turtle Doves purring away in the Paddock and a very good breeding season for Goldfinch with at a flock of 20+ juveniles feeding along the entrance path. Also 1 or 2 juvenile Bullfinches along the entrance. New for the year on the small amount of mud at the Ramp was a summer plumaged Dunlin along with a single Black-tailed Godwit and 60 Lapwings. Highlight of the day and another new bird for the year was a stunning adult male Common Redstart between Harrison's Drove and the 'Metal Bridge'. A Raven flew behind and then in front of Harrison's hide, chased by a pair of Carrion Crows, flushing 2 Green Sandpipers with another at Marsh hide and one at Feast hide. A single Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Kestrels seen along with 10 Marsh Harriers including 5 juveniles (2 from the Ramp and 3 behind Marsh hide). A female type Garganey was on Feast pool on Saturday and it or another was from the Ramp this morning. One Common Tern was seen and 2 of the juvenile Shelducks flew from Grove towards Stodmarsh. A count of 66 species noted today but, could have been more as we didn't see House or Sand Martin or Chaffinch and Greenfinch and many other common birds. Butterflies today included Comma, Red Admiral, Gate Keeper, Meadow Brown, Common and Holly Blue while the Odonata were represented by Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Ruddy and Common Darter and 3 Willow Emerald Damselflies. Thank you Marc Heath for the Hawker ID.
Green Sandpiper (1 of 4)
Southern Hawker
Willlow Emerald
Distant phone scoped record shot of male Redstart