Cute Tawny!

Tawny Owls seem to have had some success locally with a brood of three leaving the box. It was also great to see a Spotted Flycatcher in Thornton Wood, a species that I did not record here last year.

Cape Shelduck.

An adult male  Cape Shelduck was by the car park at Thornton Res today taking bread. It did not appear to be rung although I am not sure if that might not be a dark ring on the left leg.

Other recent sightings have been a very photogenic Tawny and this slate pelaged Mink. Today, 13th, I also had a Red Kite fly through at 7pm heading west.

Adult male Wheatear.

Another Wheatear was on the dam this evening, this time what appeared to be an adult male oenanthe. The wing feathers are almost as black as the lores and ear coverts. The breast was white ,lacking the pink-buff of Greenland Wheatear.

Pink Footed Goose.

Was it Percy on a brief return visit?

A single Pink Footed goose was present on Monday evening. It flew off to the N.E.

A fly over Grey Plover was a welcome addition to the year list. This evening there were 5 Swifts and a single fly through Hobby.

Floods and Migrants.

A day of heavy intense rain and the reservoir is now over the over flow for the first time in probably 18 months. A Swan at the top end is toughing it out as the water floods over the weir. Migrants today included a single Wheatear on the dam, a Swift and two Yellow wagtails. A smart Grey Wagtail was also on the dam.

Ring Ouzels.

I at last caught up with the 3 Ring Ouzels in the fields near to Retreat farm on Tuesday at 1730. There were two males and one female. They were feeding on Ivy berries in the hedge and then coming out on to the field to feed. Several Blackbirds were also investigating them.

This is the first time that I have had Ring Ouzels hang around at Thornton, no doubt due to the unsettled weather conditions.

Bet you wish you had a smart gorget like mine!

Other migrants.

Probable White Wagtail.

Two Yellow Wags. were with up to 32 Pied Wags on the meadows above Stony bank.

Dave found the first Common Sandpiper of the year on the dam.

This has also been in the wagtail field. It is a Reed Bunting, isn't it? It seems to be undergoing some strange head moult. The head is male , but the crown is still in winter plumage or even female. It also seems rather pale. Any suggestions or is it just The Thornton Bunting!