Tuesday, August 22, 2017

πŸ“– Diary Update #48

23C Tuesday 22nd August 2017 ~ A good search of the marina mid morning then on to the local patch at Napton Reservoir and Napton Hill on a very humid day.

Pied Wagtail roost beginning to build!
In last nights Pied Wagtail roost 34 birds, which included the first Yellow Wagtails of late summer, with four on the camp ground! A Barn Owl was also seen across on the adjacent farmland, although very briefly late evening. Today a Peregrine over the marina mid-morning, which continued on through heading east, although it did cause a stir among the Long-tailed Tit flock. Chiffchaffs can be heard calling, almost constantly along the west bank but the reed beds are starting to become less busy, with most of the Reed Warbler young now moving on. Strangely enough, there seem to be more Reed Buntings appearing now that the warblers have moved out!

Bullfinch
Napton Reservoir sightings consisted of a Hobby, which stayed for a while hawking over the reed beds, and a juvenile Common Redstart, which had relocated to the horse field through the second kissing gate. Four Lesser Whitethroats moving through the hawthorn on the sheep field, four Bullfinch, two Yellow Wagtails, Yellowhammer and a Raven over were other highlights!

Spotted Flycatcher at Napton Hill
Napton Hill was reasonably quiet, with the exception of four Spotted Flycatchers in the gully, two Buzzard, Green Woodpecker and a Raven. All venues had Swallow, House Martin and the odd Sand Martin passing through but no Swift during my observations.