Really starting to hot up.....

Before the heavy rain arrived this afternoon, many of the regular watchers had connected with SANDWICH TERNS at the reservoirs today. First thing, a party of 3 adults pitched in on the bund and roosted in front of the hide until at least early afternoon, when Dave Bilcock left them. Dave also saw two additional birds on Startop's while a further flock of 7 spent the morning at Grovebury Sand Pit, not that far away just south of Leighton Buzzard. Dave Hutchinson obtained these superb shots below....

Ian Williams had a GREY PLOVER fly through too, as well as a DUNLIN, whilst also 'new in' were up to 9 Green Sandpipers and a single GREENSHANK. Steve Rodwell had 2 BLACK TERNS whizz quickly through Wilstone whilst also noted were 3 GARGANEY, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 6 Grey Wagtails and a big increase in dabbling ducks, particularly Common Teal and Shoveler. The single Pintail remains, as does the eclipse drake Wigeon.

On the Hills, at least 7 COMMON REDSTART are present, with 5 below the main car park, 2 near the S-bend and others on Steps Hill, with 3 Northern Wheatears in the sheep fields. A LITTLE EGRET flew west this afternoon - my first-ever at this locality.

First RUFF of the year and perhaps another WOOD SANDPIPER...

First thing Tuesday, Dave Bilcock had a nice confiding juvenile WOOD SANDPIPER on Startop's End Reservoir. It quickly relocated to the mud in the NW corner of reservoir, where Richard Woodhead also discovered a juvenile RUFF - the first of the year. The wader fest continued with the addition of DUNLIN, 5 Green Sandpipers and 4 Common Sandpipers, while other species noted included 9 Little Egret, 2 Water Rail and an increase in Shoveler & Teal

College Lake BBOWT held 19 roosting Yellow-legged Gulls and a single Common Snipe.

WOOD SANDPIPER still present on Wilstone

The WOOD SANDPIPER was still at Wilstone Reservoir this morning. Initially it could only be seen on the far side of the water from the overflow. Luckily by the time I’d reached the hide it could be seen from there. Still quite distant but couple of record shots attached.

A juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWIT and Hobby at College Lake BBOWT

Dave Hutchinson

DUNLIN at last! My first of the year

Thanks to Dave Bilcock, I connected with this moulting adult DUNLIN in the northwest corner of STARTOP'S END RESERVOIR early morning; also YELLOW WAGTAIL and the long-staying Red-crested Pochard noted.....