Redstart and Whinchat weekend

Saturday 30th

Could not make any of the Little Egrets in to ‘cattle’ this morning, no sign of Redstarts and missed the remaining Black Tern but you’re in it too win it and we had a cracking adult Merlin hunting low over the crop field heading directly towards us before veering away. The only other birds of note were Whitethroat 10 Swift and 10 Yellow Wagtail. As it was too blustery for Napton on the Hill we did the nearby reservoir instead which paid off with immature Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Raven and 3 Buzzard plus 5 Migrant Hawker’s and a Brown Argus.

Back out again in the afternoon to the pond with Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler and Blackcap in the boardwalk area and a Greenshank on the north shore to add to the morning list.

Sunday 31st
Plenty of activity in the hedgerow below farborough spit with 20+ Yellow Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Tree Sparrow, 6 Yellowhammers, 50 Linnet along with 50+ Greenfinch and 30+ Starlings feeding on the abundant flies this morning. One Redstart still remains the other side of the field but elusive due to a Buzzard perched nearby. Little else noted but did not stay long as very busy with bikers and walkers - 5 Little Egret, 7 Common Tern and 8 Swift and a Muntjac Deer.
The Whinchat at Napton Reservoir was joined by a second bird with 2 Redstarts (adult male &  female) with a third bird possible but all three were never in the same view. The hedgerows had 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap. Hobby and Sparrowhawk over briefly. Plenty of Migrant Hawkers and Southern Hawkers around with at least 2 Brown Hawkers, 5 Common Darter and 3 Common Blue Damselfly while butterflies included Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Brimstone and Comma.
Napton on the Hill had 2 Peregrine, 4 Raven, 5 Buzzard, 2 Redstarts 2 Lesser Whitethroats Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Yellowhammers along with 6 Mistle Thrush and 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker.