Bridges - Pied Flycatchers

I spent a couple of hours in rapidly departing woodland by the Darnford Brook! It was at it's best with singing Pied Flycatchers, I counted eight, 5m and 3f, there were undoubtedly more! Three male redstarts plus a supporting cast of 17 more species...

Tricky light as ever with the males!

This female was the star of the show, at first I thought she was picking up insects

It turned out to be scraps of nesting material!

Here's one of the three male Redstarts - rather elusive!

I wonder where it will all end? It's a woodland full of magical birds - I just hope it isn't ruined

Venus Pool - Male Redstart

Redstarts seem to be making an early 'presence' so let's hope they can breed on the reserve? This one was in an unlikely location and always amongst 'clutter' - viewed from the Main Hide!

I had a minute or two before it flew out of view and was not seen again!

Venus Pool - Juvenile Redstart

A juvenile Common Redstart has been putting in an appearance lately and I bumped into it today!

Goodness knows where it came from?

Sutton Park - Redstart

It seemed like a good idea but Dave Chapman and I picked the wrong day to have another go for the Red-backed Shrike! An overnight clear-out seemed to have included it sadly, despite walking extensively around the hotspots with one or two others on site as well!

The only consolation was an obliging female Common Redstart, catching what few flies were around and favouring the same area as the Shrike so we spent a few minutes there!

Generally using the lower branches to wait for prey...

And giving a flash of that bright red tail:

Another fly bit the dust!

Just one opportunity for a totally uncluttered background on a more distant branch!

Job done...

On this day (April 15th)... 2016, 2014 and 2012

No rarities today but April is a great month for Terns passing through Shropshire. Here's an Arctic Tern at Chelmarsh Reservoir in 2016...

Passage Terns are valued in Shropshire, as we seem to miss the main migration routes through the midlands. So it was nice to see an Arctic Tern flying about during my random visit to the reservoir!

Not a lot of variation to offer here - how about a few lazy wingbeats as it came 'relatively' close but never close enough!!

All red bill and nice distinct trailing edge to the (translucent) primaries....

Wingbeats speak louder than words....

Peak arrival for Summer visitors too, here's a showy Yellow Wagtail at Venus Pool in 2014

Whilst Summer visitors are not exactly pouring in, there is at least a steady trickle! My first Yellow Wagtail of the year, a cracking male was as obliging as one could ask for......

For once, the Gulls worked in my favour by flushing it off the mud and onto the grassy bank in front of the hide!

A clean background (the one and only chance)

Full frontal posing.....

Plus the rear view!

In search of insects -  and there were plenty!

Like this Hoverfly.....

Not to mention the odd Crane Fly!

The light was perfect and perhaps my best ever opportunity here?

A wader or two would be nice but I'm off to Devon for a week on the talk trail.....

And a male Common Redstart in 2012...

The smart male Common Redstart is still performing well along the hedgerow in the top field. Patience was rewarded with a few images, he doesn't take kindly to being approached, just sit and wait......







In the last remnants of blossom....



Pick of the bunch, posing nicely



Not a lot happening with the LRPs, one in reflective pose....