Weekend!

Pied Flycatcher in a private garden 2 birds present

 Pied Flycatchers have been the star attractions this weekend, apart from the Honey Buzzards for those lucky enough to have had them right overhead, I managed a distant bird in the heat haze. I'm not sure what the holiday weekend count of Pied Flycatchers was but I'm sure it must have been at least 40, with a few Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats, Wheatears and as far as I know not a single Common Redstart, where are they? Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps still form the majority of birds trapped and ringed. Most the waders seem to have cleared out along with the Black Terns, but the little Gulls and Garganey seem to be hanging on.

 Sea watching has been dire even with light South Easterlies, the warm settled weather may be pleasant but it does very little for the birding.

 As it has been so hot for I have spent a lot of time sky watching seeing a distant Honey buzzard, 20+ Common Buzzards, several each of Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, a single Peregrine and a few stratospheric Swifts.

1 of at least 3 Pied Flycatcher at the Sanctuary

 Iphone image of Pied Flycatcher 

Common Buzzard over my garden

1st cycle Mediterranean Gull at Firth this evening

At Burrowes this evening c300 Oystercatchers roosting, 4 Redshanks, 2 Ruff, a 1st cycle Mediterranean Gull and little else. Now that the Terns have fledged and left it was eerily quiet. 

Redshanks at Firth this evening  including a colour ringed juvenile

Water Rail at Hanson this evening

Hanson was very quiet this evening just 2 Greenshanks, 3 Ruff, 3 Garganey and Common Sandpiper among the usual wildfowl. A Water Rail showed well albeit briefly in the failing light.