Colour Ringed Common Tern.

 Four Common Terns have been frequenting the reservoir. One pair have shown interest in the tern raft and are now regularly perched on it. Both have metal rings on their right legs and one has a colour ring on the right.
The code is U26. This is a bird that I rung at Watermead CP on 23rd June 2014, so it is a bit like meeting an old friend!

The male feeding the colour ringed female. Pair bonding.

Common Terns winter in West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. Very few return in their first year and over summer in their winter quarters. The colour ringed female will have made the trip probably four times.
I am hoping that they find the raft to their liking and breed, although it is likely to be the first attempt for this three year old female.

April Highlights.

 On the 11th April I had two Osprey encounters and managed to get photos. I sent these to John Wright of the Rutland Osprey project. He was able to confirm that the first bird was a female,(broader wings and more barrel chested), and the second was a male, on which you can just make out a ring on the left leg. He thought it almost certain that both were Scottish migrants.

 Grey Lag Geese on Wagtail field.

 Male Grey Wagtail.

 Lesser Black backed Gulls checking out the tern raft!

 Dave Wright found this smart drake Garganey at the Outflow on April 30th.

 Seemed tired after no doubt battling against the stiff easterly wind.

 A pair of Grey Wagtails were busy feeding three recently fledged juveniles on April 30th.