With high pressure finally settling over the UK during the past week those spring migrants held up by the recent northerlies have finally begun to arrive. Brandon Marsh has been a cacophony of sound with many Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcap. Sand Martins are already in and out of the artificial structure and Swallows are now in good numbers.
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| Yellow Wagtail - Napton reservoir |
On Monday I decided to start my day at Draycote Water but after registering my first
Yellow Wagtails of the year and catching up with the recent
Little Gull I abandoned my visit due to the sheer numbers of black fly. On to Brandon Marsh where the highlight was three
White Wagtail on East Marsh Pool. Tuesdays visit to Brandon had my first ♀
Blackcap, a fly-by
Cuckoo and at least three
Sedge Warbler. The mid morning sunshine had brought out a good number of butterflies, including a couple of years firsts,
Green-vein White and a half dozen
Orange-tip. A stop off on the way home at Napton Reservoir had four
Yellow Wagtails before I got fed up with the several dog walkers chucking sticks into the water.
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| 1st Orange-tips of the year at Brandon Marsh |
Thursday is work party day at Brandon Marsh but I arrived just after sunrise and took a tour of the farm pool and top reedbeds before work. I was quite surprised that during my tour I didn't come across a single
Sedge or
Reed Warbler and over recent years this has also been a great spot for my first
Grasshopper Warbler of the year. As it turned out I was on the wrong side of the reserve! When I reached East Marsh Hide for coffee news of
Reed Warbler and
Grasshopper Warbler near the 'Olive Bench' from the chaps had me on my way and sure enough a reeling
Gropper and at least two
Reed Warbler from the bench area. A
Cuckoo was also calling from the golf course and back at the hide my first
Common Sandpipers. While working on the conservation area at least two
Common Whitethroats were new to the reserve, a single
Snipe and two
Little-ringed Plover were also recorded.
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| Record Shot of Napton Reservoir ♂Whinchat |
During lunch a phone call from Richard Mays instantly turned me green with news of
Montague's Harrier and
Whinchat on my doorstep at the nearby Napton Reservoir. Fortunately I managed to connect with the stunning
♂Whinchat when I dropped in on the way home.
Tree Pipit also heard during my stay. Sadly my dreams of a
Montague's Harrier perched on my roof when I arrived back aboard didn't come to fruition! Record shots on
Richards blog.
