mainly sunny, some cloud; mod (occ. blustery) NW.
Garden Warbler - 1
Lesser Whitethroat - 1
Willow Warbler - 10 (inc. 1 very grey bird, & 2 singing)
Chiffchaff - 1
Reed Warbler - 13
House Martin - 25
Sand Martin - 3
Grey Wagtail - 2
Goldcrest - 4
Goldfinch - 25
Shoveler - 23
Gadwall - 8
Pochard - c25
Tufted Duck - c40
Sparrowhawk - 1
After a period of generally warm, settled weather, heavy storms and strong winds have arrived during the last 48 hours, especially overnight; with this in mind, and with the sun shining early, a couple of hours at the Reservoirs seemed worthwhile in the hope that a scattering of migrants may have been grounded. And so it was - an entertaining morning, with a good cast of passerines supported by steadily increasing duck numbers.
Warblers were especially good, with cracking close views of both Garden Warbler (in the scrub to the south of the ER) and Lesser Whitethroat (in the bushes between the New River east and the Res). Willow Warblers were out in force, with most feeding actively in the willows between the New River east and the northern bank of the ER.
Reed Warblers are almost everywhere, especially where berries abound.Hirundines were hawking insects over the water, with 25 House Martins and 3 Sand Martins present. Two Swifts were also recorded.
