Birding Again

 At this time of the year my attentions often focus on insects rather than birds but as the first signs of autumn begin to show my thoughts often start to turn to the southward migration and I find myself drawn to anywhere where waders might be on the move. Today Alan and I paid a call on Eyebrook Reservoir hoping to catch some signs of this seasonal movement and we were not disappointed. Weatherwise it was cloudy and quite cool to begin with though as the morning progressed the sun began to shine through and it became quite warm.

Black-tailed Godwits

At he sharp end a brace of Dunlins shared the mud with plenty of Lapwings and a couple of Redshanks, a little later on we found two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers too. As we watched over the area a flock of at least thirty Black-tailed Godwits circled the inflow before heading southeast. Minutes later a message on the Whatsapp informed us that 35 Blackwits were at the island and we headed there ASAP.  The Godwits showed well from the bunker though further counting suggested a total of 39 which is by far and away the most that I've seen here. The godwits were joined by a further two Redshanks while close by at Sam's Dyke a Common Sandpiper and a juv Little Ringed Plover were noted. Reports that a Marsh Harrier was quartering the fields below Great Easton hill sent me wandering off in that direction and I saw the bird gaining height on a thermal before departing in a south easterly direction. Another bird of note was the long staying Whooper Swan close to the dam, it's so nice to see them without running the risk of frostbite!

Spotted Flycatchers

A return to the sharp end added half a dozen Green Sandpipers, a Common Sand and another Blackwit to the day list while some up to date info from another birder put us on to some Spotted Flycatchers. From the bridleway to the east of the plantation we found a family party in a hedge just one field in from the Stoke Dry road. We watched them for some time and enjoyed some great views before moving on to the 'spoons, a prior evening appointment with workmates limited my time. An entertaining little coda to my day was provided by a Peregrine over the Saxon Crown as I drank with workmates, I bet the town centre's population of pigeons didn't enjoy the sighting as much as I did!