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| Raven @ Napton |
Fortunately for me the marina is located quite near Napton Reservoir and not too far from Draycote Water and affords good panoramic views, so I'm in a prime location for anything passing by. Many House Martins and Swallows are already coming through in large groups each day and I've already registered six Common Tern and one Arctic, along with Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatear on the nearby Napton Hill.
At Brandon yesterday a Spotted Flycatcher was seen by Jeff Hood perched on one of the dead trees across from the Central Marsh Path, unfortunately by the time he'd got back to the big hide to notify me the bird had moved off. I needn't have worried though as later in the day I had probably the same bird at the rear of River Pool Hide. Away from the migration a juvenile Peregrine visited East Marsh Pool, most likely the same bird as Tuesday's, but try as he might he simply could not pick off any of the 300 or so Lapwing.
This morning after a clear night I was on the top of Napton Hill near the windmill at first light in the hope of something special, but sadly after a two hour stint walking down to the quarry and back, I came away disappointed. Having said that more Ravens were showing with 3 recorded, other notables were 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Willow Warbler and single Goldcrest, Kestrel and GS Woodpecker. When I got back to the church the sun was well up and Swallow and House Martin were plentiful along with a large group of Starlings which passed through.
After Napton village a brief look at the reservoir, which sadly had nothing of interest, and then a couple of hours down at Brandon in the hope of the already late arriving Greenshank. Brandon though was once again very quiet species wise, with the exception of 2 Green Sandpiper and 5 Snipe, the numbers of Teal and Shoveler are now beginning to grow as well. Another visit to Brandon tomorrow to catch up with the Tuesday guys!
