A splendid singing Savi's Warbler at Stortons GP

There was great excitement today when a rare Savi's Warbler was found at Stortons GP. This was due to the persistence of Ken Prouse birding his local patch day in and day out.  A find like this is rare but it makes all those visits of seeing very little all worthwhile and hopefully will encourage all of us not to give up on our own patches.  Well done Ken, not only did you find a rariety but you made a lot of people very happy.  I  wonder what you will find next ?!    As it was predicted to be our hottest day yet I was out very early with the dogs and when my phone pinged with the news of this bird my heart sank as I was at the furthest point possible away from my car. So by the time I got home, sorted the dogs out and got stuck in traffic heading through Kingsthorpe it was just after 10am and very hot when I finally arrived at Stortons GP.  There was a small group of birders who had been listening to and watching the Savi's a few minutes beforehand . I was cursing the traffic hold up.  I  stayed until midday when it became unbearable in the heat, no further sign of the Savi's but plenty of showy Reed and Cettis Warblers.  My plan was to return at 19.00hrs when it would be cooler and hoped that the bird would still be there.                                                                                          At 17.45hrs when I was eating my tea a message came through that the Savi's was singing again. I couldn't believe the timing of this bird !!. So it was off back to Stortons again where the bird was calling, such a strange metallic buzzing call, and showing intermittently.                                                   Other birds seen at Stortons today include a male Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo and Water Rail.                                                    Stortons GP is a place that I haven't visited for years.  My memories of this site are wading through smelly black mud whilst extracting birds from mist nets when I used to help with some ringing and it's a place where I'm not happy visiting on my own.                                                                          However if you are able to get to Stortons GP and see/hear the Savi's Warbler it is well worth it. There is a free car park (Saints Rugby) off Edgar Mobbs Way and a very obvious red bin on the pavement which is right next to one of the entrances to the reserve. 

Regards Eleanor 

Pictures from Tyler Atkinson