Common Redstart Frenzy!!!

Plenty of Common Redstarts reported today as they start to move from their breeding ground.  Two juveniles remain at Clifford Hill GP, at least 2 were at Blueberry including a stunning male, a further bird at shrike hedge caught up in a roving warbler/tit flock,  2 or 3 birds in their favourite hedgerows between Old and Walgrave, one at Draughton car park along the Brampton Valley Way,  at least 2 at Harrington Airfield this evening including a male and one below Hanging Houghton.  Phew, these are the ones that we know about but it does make you wonder how many others are passing unnoticed through the county. 

Other birds reported today include a Black Necked Grebe, adult Mediterranean Gull, Black Tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper at Daventry CP,  a  Black Necked Grebe and female Ruddy Shelduck at Stanford Reservoir,  Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys,  Osprey,  Grasshopper Warbler and Black Tailed Godwit at Titchmarsh LNR, adult Yellow Legged Gull,  3 Great White Egrets and Hobby north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir,  2 Tree Sparrows near Old and a Greenshank and family of Spotted Flycatchers at Sywell Reservoir.   Currently the water level is very low at Sywell due to work that has been carried out on the dam and now it is just waiting for rain to fill it up again.  It certainly looks as if it should attract some interesting waders but I think that it is very under watched. But it is definitely worth a visit or two.     Whilst I have been out and about today I have definitely noticed a big movement of birds in the hedgerows,  mainly warblers and tits but other things do tend to tag along too.  I spent nearly an hour just watching the birds moving along shrike hedge below Hanging Houghton this morning and I lost count of the number of Common Whitethroats that went past me, but I was also rewarded with a Grasshopper Warbler,  Lesser Whitethroat and Common Redstart.  It's always worth slowing down and just watching a small area instead of covering lots of ground although my collies would prefer that I did the latter.                                                                           Have a good weekend however you spend it. I will be at an agility competition whilst Neil is ringing at Harrington Airfield,  so watch this space to see what hits the nets !!

Regards Eleanor 

A few images of the low water level at Sywell Reservoir 

Brown Argus and Dunnock,  courtesy of Tony Stanford 

Tystie looking very pleased with himself.  First time out competing and he did a fabulous run finishing in 1st place. Exciting times ahead with him.