Just Like The Old Days

 Shozzer and I spent the morning and some of the afternoon taking a look at Eyebrook again. We started at the Stoke Dry car park, a quick check of the sharp end having produced sightings of a single Dunlin and a Green Sandpiper. Following in the footsteps of an increasing number of dog walkers we strolled through parts of the plantation on the search for Spotted Flycatchers. There were a few sunny spells though for the most part it was grey with rather a strong westerly breeze.

Speckled Wood and Common Blue Damselfly

During the sunnier periods a few insects ventured out though the only odes were Common Blue Damselflies. Butterflies fared slightly better with four species on the wing and these were Large and Small White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. An Osprey had been the most interesting bird until we had almost returned to the entrance where at least one Spotted Flycatcher was heard. It took a while but eventually a flycatcher was glimpsed as it perched in a pine tree though Alan didn't get that great a view before it disappeared. We tried to relocate it but failed and Shozzer suggested a look at the eastern edge of the wood which was sheltered from the wind. His instincts were proved right as up to nine Spotteds were perched on the barbed wire fence making the occasional sally out in search of prey. Seeing this many together took me back years to when this species was a common summer visitor. We watched them for some time before deciding to move on and have a look at the rest of the res.

Spotted Flycatcher and Wood Sandpiper

Another look at the sharp end produced further views of the Dunlin though the Green Sand was not refound.  A scan of the area revealed plenty of Egyptian Geese and Lapwings but it was the now long staying Wood Sandpiper that stole the show. We had good views through the scopes, this was the fourth time that I've seen it in a fortnight. Moving on and we failed to find the Cetti's Warbler reported this morning and the last sighting of note was of the regular Yellow-legged Gull at the island.

Yellow-legged Gull