Thank's Bertha for the Sabs

Having checked out the reservoir on our arrival and being disappointed that nothing looked like it had been blown in over the weekend we decided to walk to rainbow corner where our list consisted of 4 Common Tern, 4 Little Egret, juvenile Little Ringed Plover, adult and 2 young Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Teal, 50 Sand Martin and 3 Swift. As we were returning I decided to check the gulls out that were gathering around P buoy from the windsurfing area just as the wind was picking up and instantly identified an adult summer plumage Sabine’s Gull that after a few fly pasts settled on the water long enough to get the rangers on to it as they passed by. Call from JJ and KY showed they were watching it from Farnborough bank. As news got out we moved to join them on farborough bank but 5 minutes before folks started to arrive it flew out of sight towards rainbow corner and was never seen again. This was my 5^th record at the pond but it was a draycote tick for JJ, KY and DC so we went off for coffee to celebrate joined by many disappointed others. While watching the Sabs Swifts increased to 15 and Common Tern 15+ plus a juvenile Black Tern made a brief appearance.
As we have made a mental note to try and work Napton on the Hill every day this autumn whatever the weather if we are in the area we met up with KY and PC at the church and despite the blustery conditions headed for the kissing gate where there was plenty of activity with at least 10 Spotted Flycatcher including at least 5 young still showing yellow gapes, Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Willow Warbler. Moving on to the gully hoping to show KY the Redstart we eventually found 3 with the juvenile male joined by 2 adult females. It’s not often I see 3 Redstarts in one day in the county. Couple of Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers also present. On our return 2 Hobby appeared over the church briefly and a Sparrowhawk nearby.