Passage Wagtails

So far this year, there's been a decent passage of Wagtails, with nearly double figures of Whites, and many more Yellows going through daily

I noticed the below female type yesterday on the rear paddocks, It wasnt till a friend pointed out it was similar to other possible female Blue Headed (Flava) Wagtails being discussed on Twitter that evening that i looked into it.  Poor shots due to distance and cropping etc

It Shows; blue-grey hues in the head,  pale centered ear coverts (only just) and extensive pale throat. The prominent eye stripe isn't as bold in front of the eye however but is certainly showing traits of Blue Headed Wag... You can thank me now for not titling this blog post "Whats your Flava?" or something similar.

Here are some White Wagtails from the past couple of weeks;

2 Males together

Adult Male White Wagtail

First Summer Female White Wagtail

Different individual males, variable grey 'wash' in the flanks.

@jarpartridge

Hirundines (and Wagtails)

In 2013, a year after discovering the regular Sand Martin's  breeding site (by Leyton Marsh), I took these photos.

I'm pleased to say that for the last four years of my watching the site, they're back in strength. 

I spent a pleasant 30 minutes observing them dash around at their usual spot.

There were two Yellow Wagtail on the rear paddocks.

Then I was treated to an aerial display of all three British hirundines - House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows. They were feeding over the flood relief channel. The House Martins were also swooping over the rear paddocks, picking up mud to reinforce their established nests in the nearby Coppermill Treatment Works.

@leevalleybirder

Room 101

I wanted to check out Bed 16 on the WaterWorks this morning as it had been newly flooded and a Common Snipe and a Kingfisher had made an appearance recently.

In and around the entrance and the paths to the hides there were lots of:

Chiffchiff

Goldfinch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker

Classic Goldfinch

 While I was watching the Goldfinches devour the teasel, I heard an unusual call pass over my head. I walked round to the bank of bed 15 where I saw and heard what I thought to be a Tree Pipit. I snapped a few pics, got a second opinion - fine flank streaking, breast streaking discreet, not coalescing into a central blob, eye stripe, spot on ear coverts, yellow breast and short hind claw, low teeess call and in a tree – and was later satisfied to tick my first life and patch Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit

Tree Pipit 8:54am  (lifer #186 and patch year #100)

There were also:

Cettis Warbler

Jay (lots of them all over stocking up on acorns)

Willow Warbler

And Bed 17 was getting some water. So hopefully Bed 16 and 17 will be good over Winter.

Later, me and the Prof took a whirl around the Reservoirs. No major wader action, but a scarce patch bird in the shape of a Skylark - #101 for the patch year for me.

Yellow Wagtail 

Skylark (patch year #101)

Yellow Wagtail (6)

Common Sandpiper

Kingfisher

Spotted Flycatcher

Lesser Whitethroat

Garden Warbler

Blackcap (m)

Common Tern

Swallow

House Martin

Tree doing a muppet impression.

GH - @leevalleybirder