Migration Update #2

Black Redstart @ Napton Reservoir!!

I managed to squeeze in a few hours at Brandon Marsh yesterday afternoon and decided to take a tour of the less travelled areas of the reserve, having established that the pools were extremely quiet!

A number of Butterflies were on the wing and I managed various small numbers of Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Peacock. Just off one of the conservation areas I discovered a small pool which was brimming with Frog Tadpoles, a welcome sight on a reserve that doesn't do too well for frogs and Toads.

Sunday's Blackcap was still vocal in New Hare Covert and also observed was a lone ♂Swallow still hanging around the Lafarge works and probably one of the local nesting ones back on site. Other than the usual sightings it was a pleasant but quiet visit.

Orange Tip

Yesterday evening I took a quick tour of the local areas with Dee and spent a very enjoyable half hour at Napton Reservoir practising flight shots with the camera and enjoying the late evening sunshine. It wasn't until later when reviewing our many images that I got a surprise when I drilled in on a distant shot. To my amazement what appears to be Black Redstart jumped out at me, a very pleasant surprise and a first for me locally.

Sadly no further sign of the Black Redstart at Napton and unfortunately today my usual Tuesday Brandon birding day was rudely interrupted, when I spent most of the morning with other members of the conservation team rescuing the team boat. Which for the second time had been vandalised and sunk by some low life's, who'd intentionally filled it with sand to sink it. Fortunately the individuals involved were photographed and I'm sure things will develop further.

On a positive note I'm pleased to say that the new temporary viewing screen is now finished and open to the general public. The screen allows you to see first hand the work completed so far on the new Phase 3 reed bed development. The path is accessible from the Carlton Hide and will be open until such time as the work begins on the new hide. View BMVCT Blog

Finally from a migration birding perspective Chiffchaff's now seem well established, more Blackcap's are now singing around the reserve and two Little Ringed Plovers were the only additions on East Marsh Pool. More Butterflies on the wing today with Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Brimstone and my first Orange Tip of the year near Primrose Bank.