Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Migrants Galore!

♂Garganey - Sadly Never Came Too close!
With a little business to take care of I finally managed to get to Brandon Marsh Monday PM, primarily to catch up with the pair of Garganey that came in after I'd left on Sunday.

However, on arrival JR alerted me to a ♂Common Redstart on the tip area and so I decided to divert straight there. Despite a good search for it, and as it happens a Pied Flycatcher seen earlier, I sadly drew a blank on both.

Notwithstanding, after connecting with the Garganey on East Marsh Pool I returned to the 'Tip' area and after a further ninety painstaking minutes finally got my reward when I spotted a ♂Redstart opposite the transect area, nowhere near the area I'd originally been looking!

Common Whitethroat - Brandon 2012
Today I decided on an early start along the Tip area once more after yesterdays sightings and almost the first notable of the day was my first Common Whitethroat of the year in the nearby Hawthorn. After a short while I was joined by Jim, Derek and Mike and by the time we reached the Farm Field area Redwing, Fieldfare and Skylark had been recorded. The best though was a stunning ♂Stonechat perched on top of the bramble, which after a quick few record shots was off across the reedbed.

New Hare Covert produced two pair of Blackcap, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and as I emerged near the golf course my second Whitethroat, when one was singing within the bramble. Shortly after my first House Martin of the year when one came over Swallow Pool. A Barnacle Goose on the golf course along with (2) Oystercatcher and the now established Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallow and Sand Martins before a stop at Wright Hide.

The path from Wright Hide through to the Saga sign still holds good numbers of Lesser Redpoll, with (12) feeding on the ground and high in the Alder, a single Siskin was also within the group.

Fox on Wigeon Bank
Coffee in Big Hide and a chance to see what was about on East Marsh Pool and it wasn't long before the ♂♀Garganey were noted by their absence, no sign at all today! A Wader count produced: (3) Snipe, (1) Common Sandpiper, (3) Redshank, (2) Little-ringed Plover and (3) Oystercatcher. A very brief visit from a lone Yellow Wagtail, a third Whitethroat, Water Rail, (2) more House Martin and a good looking Fox the best of the rest.

Carlton Hide and the screen area produced little but the bonus for me were the several Frogs languishing in the water in front of the hide. Also found today during my reserve tour were a couple of Toads and a small portion of Frogspawn, very encouraging indeed!

Another new arrival today was a single Sedge Warbler, which after a tip off from John Walton we found singing in the reeds just behind the tool store.

Only a few Butterflies out today in the slightly chillier wind: (2) Comma, (4) Peacock and (2) Brimstone.