Osprey

Three Grey Herons over Orcombe before heading towards the river.

 

Another beautiful day with wall-to-wall sunshine and barely a breath of wind. I've been outdoors as much as possible, starting with a dawn walk around Orcombe Point. I recorded 8+ Blackcap, 2 Raven, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 10 Grey Wagtail, 1+ Goldcrest, 200+ Meadow Pipit, 16+ Chiffchaff, 20+ Swallow, 12+ Yellow Wagtail, 5 Tree Pipit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 alba wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 2+ House Martin, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 3 Grey Heron.

Off Mudbank - 56 Pale-belied Brent Geese and from the back Garden - Osprey, Hobby and 1 Sand Martin.

It was lovely to see the Pale-bellied Brent Geese up close this morning. I counted 56, of which 27 were juveniles. The juveniles are dusky-flanked and easily confusable with Dark-bellied birds at distance and/or in unfavourable light conditions.

Lunar Underwing. Not much else in the trap last night but Old Lady and Small Square Spot of note.

Osprey from the back garden - seen making its way slowly upriver at 10am, and it or another again at 1435. A Hobby and a Sand Martin also put in appearances with small numbers of Swallow and House Martin on the move too.

Bar-headed Goose - Blackhill Quarry.

One of five Dartford Warblers seen on this afternoon's dog-walk.

Male Keeled Skimmer.

Small Heath and Grayling still on the wing this afternoon.