Wednesday 8 August 2018

Birds of yellow.

Hello

Eric Graham's resilience and persistence has been paying off all summer with his regular visits to the Titchmarsh Reserve, and again today he thoroughly enjoyed his wildlife observations with plenty of birds on offer including now three Great White Egrets. Years ago we all used to enjoy encountering mixed warbler and tit flocks as these roving bands (often of juvenile birds) roamed the hedgerows and woodland edges. In recent years this has become a far less common sight, but Eric found such a flock at Titchmarsh today and among the throng marvelled at the vivid yellows of the juvenile Willow Warblers. Other birds on the reserve today included two Black-tailed Godwits in the wader channel and a Green Sandpiper.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was perched imperiously on one of the buoys near to the Maytrees Hide at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, a regular spot for it, and a Snipe flushed up from in front of the hide. A gathered flock of 43 non-breeding Great Crested Grebes in full summer plumage garb nevertheless reminds us that autumn as far as the birds are concerned is upon us!

We are fortunate to have grass fields bordering our back garden here at Hanging Houghton, often containing livestock. There have been transitory Yellow Wagtails visiting the fields regularly during the last month, partly no doubt attracted to the cattle. This afternoon three or four of these birds were on the house roof which was a little closer than normal!

Regards

Neil M


Willow Warbler
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Male Yellow Wagtail.




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