It's migrant time!

Hello

The changeable weather conditions today definitely had an effect on migrants endeavouring to fly over our fair county or stopping for a breather and refreshments before going on again.

Pitsford was again the place to be with a Great White Egret and plenty of common waders on show in the morning, which were then eclipsed when David Arden and Jacob Spinks espied a migrant Pied Flycatcher next to the Bird Club hide in the Scaldwell Bay.

This evening the birds on offer there included seven Red-crested Pochard, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, three Ruff, a Snipe, eight Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, four Dunlin, two Hobbies, two Ravens and two Swifts

A certain hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton but close to the southern perimeter of Blueberry Farm can be a real migrant trap and so it proved again this afternoon with a large number of common warblers present plus at least two Redstarts, six Whinchats and two Wheatears in the drizzly rain.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Cathy Ryden

Siskin courtesy of  David Arden.

This bird was feeding on natural food from a
garden Silver Birch, but already
migrant summer Siskins arriving from
this June have been seen on garden
feeders. This year their summer
movements have been mirroring
that of Common Crossbill.