A Grasshopper Warbler was singing by the dragonfly pools, but this time it wasn't visible. However, the same area provided the bird of the day when a distant "possible Linnet" aroused sufficient interest for a second look which revealed it was actually a juvenile/female Redstart.
We moved closer to get some photograph and film of it.
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| Redstart |
It's always nice when the first passerine passage migrant appears, even though there is every likelihood that some of the warblers we are seeing are also passing through.
A large dragonfly investigated us as we headed towards the beehives, its curiosity strongly pointing to it being a Southern Hawker, and it then perched and allowed us to confirm that it was indeed.
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| Southern Hawker |
All the usual butterflies were present, but despite it being The Great British Butterfly Count time, there were too many distractions to encourage us to take a disciplined approach.
We joined the ringers, Tony and Leigh, as they were packing up. They had caught another juvenile Grasshopper Warbler this morning, and we were pleased that they chose to join us on a stroll to the flash field. On the way we noticed a Marsh Tit calling from the hedge close to where their nets had been, and then discovered a couple of Green Sandpipers chasing each other around in a bid to assert ownership of the last vestige of the main pool.
Usually when we try to show someone a Little Owl in the flash field oak tree, the residents are invisible, but not today. An adult and juvenile were peaking out of the foliage for Tony and Leigh to see.
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| We can see you |
The flash itself was a bit underwhelming. The recent rain has reduced the amount of mud, and we could only see five Green sandpipers and two Teal.
Tony and Leigh headed back, and they didn't miss much. The best we could do was get another view of the Redstart as we returned to Netherstead.
Ringing update:
The control details are now through. A Great Tit trapped at Wolverton (about 10kms east of Morton Bagot) on 19 Oct 2019 was trapped at Morton Bagot on 12 Jul 2020. Champagne all round!
Meanwhile a summary of two short sessions this week is as follows:
Blue Tit 10 (5)
Great Tit 15 (6)
Chiffchaff 3
Grasshopper Warbler 1
Whitethroat 6 (1)
Wren 1
Robin 1
Greenfinch 11 (1)
Goldfinch 4 (1)
Reed Bunting 1
The Grasshopper Warbler was another juvenile, and Greenfinch numbers are building well. The feeders are doing their job.
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