Still 3 Redstart

Another hour or so watching our wonderful Redstarts leads me to conclude, it is just the same 3 for their third day. The light plays havoc with tones when viewing and worse when catching record shots. Either way it is a minimum of 4 in August, when there were only 4 previous August records altogether.

I also believe the female type on the 28th is one of the three still present, this bird has the grey feathers showing in the top of the breast.

Here a  few new record shots of the male taken with my Nikon Coolpix L610 thru my swaro, give me a little while and I hope to improve the quality some what

Unless someone turns up a Pochard, Mistle Thrush, Barn Owl, or something totally unexpected, we will end the month on 99, 6 more than last years new record for the month. I still suspect Barn Owl, or Skylark may have been present, probably Nightingale too.

Redstart individuals

After checking my record shots, I went back mid afternoon and got several new shots and am pretty sure, 1 of todays birds is new, possibly 2.

I felt the male today was much brighter, but my photo yesterday was so poor, I cannot be sure. I included my fun shot of this one landing, even if it is rather out of focus, capturing it with an iphone camera amuses me at least.

The other bird I am sure about as new today, looks quite like the bird on the 28th, with a feathers in the top of the breast ruffled and appearing grey. This bird looks rather grey around the head in most of my shots, but buffer in others, this may be a juvenile male.

A female, or juvenile female that was here yesterday, is here today.

So I think we have had a minimum of 5 since the 28th.

This may be male 3!?

Adult male bottom left, ? top right

Redstarts remain

I was out early today as Fridays are busy, LFGP had just 2 Common Sandpiper and not much else worth a mention, at 07:00 2 Redstart were showing in the car park field and having now looked at my pitiful record shots, one looks a bit different from the 3 yesterday.

The first two are of the same adult male, but the last in the views I caught has moustachial features I didn't notice on any yesterday, perhaps this is a new bird?

1, 2, 3

Brian texted 09:25 to say we had 2 Redstart and I was there 10 minutes later and we immediately realised there were 3, 2 female/juvs and a heavily moulted male, a new park record. As it happens, until now there have only been 4 other August Redstarts!

I also think neither female is the one from yesterday.

Watching them for 45 minutes, 2 separate Yellow Wagtails went over, both quite low, the second having a brief squabble with a Chaffinch mid flight SE.

A trickle of stuff

Another misty start, the sun breaking through around 09:30.

Very little at LFGP, just 2 Common Sandpiper, Richard Sajdack came in saying there was a Spotted Flycatcher by Jerry's bench, but we couldn't relocate it.

In the car park field, some warbler activity, Garden in the big Hawthorn, a few Blackcaps and Chiffs, then about to leave a Linnet went over low NNW calling 09:55 and as I was about to get into my car, a Yellow Wagtail South.

As I type a Redstart has been found in the car park field, here are my record shots, yet again the iphone did not focus on the bird when the best moment arose, am looking forward to my Nikon L610 to arrive, hopefully my photos will improve then

A fine morning

No sign of any Redstarts in the car park field, but a Raven came in from the NE and drifted over the landfill towards LFGP shortly after. An adult Hobby went over low East, Nuthatch as usual and Parakeets were loud again. A few warblers, but not much else, otherwise a lovely sunny morning.

I ran out of time for LFGP, but am told Common Sandpiper, LRP and Ringed Plover were present, I was also told Cetti's called near Bittern hide, so adding that, but removing the Arctic Tern due to my misreading a text and we are on 99 for the month.

Whinchat week

I said to my wife last night, the week ahead is what I refer to as 'Whinchat week' as so many of the past records occur from now to 7th, 8th, 9th September.....and later too, but the peak is usually 29th Aug to 5th Sept.

And sure enough, after I left LFGP, Marek called saying one had come into view on the docs in the far NE corner. I was about ready to take my family shopping in Reading, but my wife said "be quick". I was, staying long enough to get one classic record shot where it sat in the 5 O'Clock position from the fluffy thistle head.

A day earlier than the 2011 bird, this was species 132 for the year, 99 for the month and my 128th, so one more to go for me to equal my fourth highest score of 129, achieved in 2009.

It has been a good month, so far 5 year ticks for the park and still time for a wader or two more, maybe a Black Tern?