⛅ Tuesday 11th April 2017 ~ Arrived at Brandon Marsh around 8ish and began my tour with a look at the Farm Field and top reedbeds. Quite a pleasant morning with plenty of sunshine but a slight nip to the wind. Nothing new here and coffee in the hide a little later didn't produce any new arrivals on East Marsh Pool:
Common Sandpiper, (4)
Redshank, (4)
Oystercatcher, (5)
Little-ringed Plover, Ringed Plover and
Snipe! A single
Sedge Warbler from the hide and the usual
Cetti's Warbler,
Chiffchaff,
Willow Warbler and
Blackcap around the reserve.
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| Smart looking Common Redstart ✅ at the top end of the reedbed in the sheep field! |
To be honest I was grateful when a phone call from Richard Mays with a heads up on a
Common Redstart at Napton Reservoir came through. I arrived within half an hour, just in time to catch up with Richard and Dave Cox, a
Sedge Warbler singing away from the small pool near the car park.
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| Whats for lunch? ~ An inquisitive Common Redstart |
After an enjoyable banter I headed off to confirm the Redstart sighting 😀 I was onto the bird almost immediately, a smart looking male. Yesterdays
Lesser Whitethroat was also very vocal in the same location and so I camped out and enjoyed my lunch while watching both birds, although the LW was extremely illusive. While here a
Cetti's Warbler and
♀Blackcap. The walk back to the car park produced
White Wagtail and
Common Sandpiper, when one flew across the reedbed before dropping out of sight!
