Manx Shearwater

What an extraordinary morning. I'd checked Orton BP and Beeby's #3 and was just approaching #1 pit when Steve rang to say he had a Sabine's Gull on Crown Lakes. I was there like a shot but it still wasn't quick enough for this bird that has eluded me once before by minutes. It must have flown second before I arrived and further searching was unsuccessful. While scanning passing gulls I did pick up a flyover Ruff though which I was surprised to discover was new for the year.

146 Ruff

I then headed on to work stopping briefly at CEGB to check some gulls there. I couldn't believe when I saw a Manx Shearwater circling just to the south. It drifted off south but wasn't picked up by anyone else. A bizarre encounter.

147 Manx Shearwater

Redstart

Ferry Meadows again. An excellent combination of 2 Whinchats a Stonechat and a Redstart, all along the railway line west of the river seen on the way home from work. With a Spotted Flycatcher in the trees south of Gunwade Lake this morning that's a good selection of migrants.

145 Redstart

Whinchat

Must have cycled straight past this this morning. Only looked briefly at the ditch where Don found it just west of the river bridge along the Nene Valley Railway at Ferry Meadows.

144 Whinchat