A good day for migrant birds on the reserve.
Pick of the bunch are spotted flycatcher and redstart who have been making good use of the hedgerows and fence posts to perch on between sallies to catch any passing insects. It's important for them to fatten up before they continue on their southward journey.
The redstart is a rather shy bird and will often only allow you a brief rear-end view as it darts away. However, even the briefest of glimpses will betray its identity as you catch sight of the bright rusty red tail. This splash of red, found on both the male, female and juvenile gives this bird its name. It also accounts for some of the bird’s common names of ‘redtail’ and ‘firetail’.
This photograph of a male redstart was taken on the reserve a couple of years ago by Gareth Hughes. Why not see if you can take one this year - we'd love to see any photos that you take on the reserve.
Also putting in an appearance today are whinchat - one seen from Jupp's view and the other (conveniently) feeding in Upperton's field in view from the Visitor Centre window.
The North Brooks continues to be attractive to waders with ruff, black-tailed godwit, greenshank, green sandpiper, common sandpiper and snipe reported today.
Highlights from the world of insects include the fabulous bronze-winged brown hawker dragonfly, brown hairstreak butterflies (one female consented to descend from the treetops and pose for photographs) and a clouded yellow.