Monday, August 08, 2016

Diary Update #49

A tour of the marina early morning produced fifteen Pied Wagtails on the pontoons and three Yellow Wagtails in the adjacent field. After breakfast back aboard I spend an hour at Napton Reservoir and here the highlights were Raven over, Yellow Wagtail and after a patient 20 minute wait, a juvenile Common Redstart on the fence in the sheep field, although elusive!

Purple Hairstreak from River Meadow
A few hours at Brandon Marsh later in chilly conditions for the time of year. From a birding perspective things were very quiet and the short time I spent in the hides only managed to produce five Green Sandpipers, Little Grebe and a Hobby.

Barn Swallow at rest in the Brandon car park! Contemplating the long journey ahead?
I spent some time on River Meadow searching the treeline where I'd come across a White-letter Hairstreak a few weeks back and was amazed to find a Purple Hairstreak in the very next tree, probably two of Brandon's most elusive species in the bag for another year!!