We now have six Redstart on site , four singing males and two females. Also noted today were 3 x Common Sandpiper , 8 x Oystercatcher ( equals site record) . Single L R Plover and Common Tern , 2 x Willow Warbler and hundreds of Sand Martin and Swallow with a few House Martin.
The pair of Pied Flys are settling into life at Rudyard very well. I have checked on them every day since their arrival and they have picked a box and are starting to take nest material in , so all looks good. All photography as been done from a distance with a 600mm lens and pictures are heavily cropped as not to disturb.
All quiet today nothing new in , Pied Flycatcher's seem to be settling down . Couple more shots below of yesterday's surprise Whimbrel.
Pied Flycatcher still singing its head off in search for a female. Also three Redstart and pair Mandarin. Five new boxes put up in a different area.
Female Pied Flycatcher noted at around 10-30 in and around a box along with the male.
First Common Tern of the year arrived late afternoon, also single Pied Fly , Redstart's still and 2 x Common Sandpiper and single LR Plover. Three Siskin on feeder and couple Mistle Thrush noted , also several Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Male Reed Bunting around feeding station.
Butterflies
First Orange-tip today , also Peacock and Brimstone.
Just like busses we now have two male Pied Flycatcher's on site. Also the pair of Mandarin showed again this morning. And a bit late but the first Willow Warbler singing. House Martin , Sand Martin and around 30 Swallows . A single Common Sandpiper and LR Plover still.
We have our first record of Pied Flycatcher on site today the first one recorded in over 15 yrs. Not unless anyone can inform me differently. A male was heard singing then located and watched for around a hour.
Nothing new it at Rudyard today , two visits made due to the influx of Little Gull's in the country especially around Staffordshire but no such look here.
Good numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing , also single Oystercatcher, 2 male Redstart and a pair of Mandarin. A female Redstart has also been noted back at her usual place.
Right place right time as a Osprey passed over low looked like it was going to fish , but got chaced off by corvids . Also our first Common Sandpiper of the year and still three singing male Redstart.
Three male Redstart singing this morning. Two Little Ringed Plover, 2 x Oystercatcher, 3 x Blackcap , 18 x Chiffchaff, single Raven and Curlew.
Chiffchaff x 21 , Blackcap x 1 , Swallow x 2 Sand Martin x 3 , House Martin x 1 , L R Plover x 1 , Mandarin x 1 and Willow Tit x 1 .
