Dawn reeler


I was at Priest Hill by 06.00hrs, in a fine drizzle. My hopes were up, and within the hour a Grasshopper Warbler had been located, reeling away from dense Blackthorn and Hawthorn scrub. It sang infrequently between 06.50 - 07.20hrs - I didn't even glimpse it. There had also been an obvious arrival of Common Redstarts (below), all in the scrub and hedgerow between Glyn Playing Field and Ranger's Field. A minimum of four were present, of which one was a male. They were quite flighty, but called a lot which aided observation. To complete the trio of highlights, a Northern Wheatear was present throughout the morning on Glyn Playing Field (above).


Other counts: Canada Goose (5), Sparrowhawk (1), Swallow (7), Meadow Pipit (3), Whitethroat (5), Blackcap (5), Chiffchaff (7), Willow Warbler (2).

Comments

Gibster said…
On a local scale, that is staggering. I may have to move back down there, just a few Sand Martins and dross eagles up here!
Gibster said…
You've actually seen more Redstarts today than I ever managed on Epsom Common. Pfffft.
Steve Gale said…
Seth, over the past few years there seems to be an upsurge in Common Redstarts on passage in northern Surrey. The high ground around Banstead in particular. I expect to see them now.

Popular posts from this blog

Memories of Bob

"Kwowww"

Mike Netherwood