My First Views of Grasshopper Warbler

Yesterday morning I found a Grasshopper Warbler at Beddington Farmlands. I first heard it calling whilst it was still darkish at 05:40 but did not see it until 07:56. It is the first time I have seen one and I had only heard my first and only other one reeling here this spring. I even managed to get a few decent pics which I am happy about. Arjun came down a bit later in the morning and thankfully he managed to connect with it too. Unfortunately, Russ, who was on site as a volunteer to check on the three cattle we currently have on Phase 3 Wet Grassland, did not get to see it. I also had 4 Whinchat on the mound but they had disappeared before Arjun or Russ got there. However, we were all treated to some fabulous views of a Hobby hunting dragonflies overhead. Earlier in the morning a low flying hot air balloon caused chaos, flushing almost everything from the lakes. Even the Coots were worried and all moved to the far side of the lake. At one point the balloon came so low it appeared as though it was going to land on the mound and so it flushed up a Skylark too. Eventually everything settled back down and the 1st winter male Wigeon that was new in decided to stay despite the scare (interestingly since the event all the ducks seem to be extra skittish and flush up as soon as I come into sight).

Grasshopper Warbler below:

Hobby above and below. In the field I thought it was an adult bird but the photos show a brown wash to the remiges so it could be a 2cy autumn bird

The day before yesterday I was welcomed by 18 Greylag Geese on the North Lake early morning. They had obviously roosted there but after about 30 minutes of light they decided to fly off south. I think 18 is my personal highest count of Greylags for Beddington. Rather worryingly none of them were visisble on the lake initially and I had only heard the odd call. I do wonder what else stays hidden if a whole group of geese can temporarily avoid being seen! I also had a flyover Tree Pipit that I only heard once but it was clear enough that I was happy to count it as one. There was only one spring record for the site this year, matching last year. There was also a small increase in Sedge Warblers with at least 5 across the southern two thirds of the site. I also accidentally found myself surrounded by Wasp Spiders whilst trying to find warblers along the east bank of South Lake.

Wasp Spider

Today I met up with Glenn for the first time since late April. It has been his biggest gap without a visit to the Farmlands for some years. It was good to have his company again, and we, along with my mum, had a flyover Tree Pipit (again not seen but this time I heard four calls), the 1st winter male Wigeon, 1 1st winter Whinchat, and 2 Willow Warbler in the copses on the mound. Once both Glenn and my mum had left I waited on the Sand Martin Bank for the thunderstorm to hit. As usual, the storm was a bit anticlimactic and mostly went around the site, but 2 Sand Martin did drop down almost as soon as the rain started. Once the rain stopped again 2 Swift flew low south. I have had a couple of days this week without any Swifts so they were nice to see.

Vestal Moth

Blood-vein Moth