Common Terns drop in on journey south

Common Terns at the pits

Garden Starlings

 Young Avocet

 Redhank chicks

What a stunner

 Little Owl 

Little Owl from different angle

Unable to drive for a week and still very much in pain wasn't very easy to cope with however this weekend I'd completed a few short walks around some of my favourite site to keep my hand in despite being time restricted.

Four Common Terns were a welcome surprise at the weekend in Salford Priors. The two pairs arrived and left separately but rested on the main island. Other sightings included a Redshank & Green Sandpiper on Pophills whilst there were also two Common Sandpipers & the regular Little Ringed Plovers. If we could just have a couple of dry weeks the water level could be perfect as the waders start their trickle south.

Being stuck at home had given me more chance to see what goes on in the day in the garden. Sightings have included 20+ Starlings, Goldfinches, Coal Tit and our third brood of House Sparrows. Over head I've recorded a Buzzard, eight Swifts and a Sparrowhawk.

Over at Upton Warren, the three Redshank chicks continue to flourish. After a slow start the Avocets now have 25 chicks (13th brood), no idea how they do it among all those noisy Black-headed Gulls. Upton Warren must be one of the friendliest reserves in the country and the regulars are always willing to help new visitors. The two Egyptian Geese remained on the Sailing Pool.

Finally I called in to see my local pair of Little Owls who were most put out with the local telegraph pole workers who were replacing some wires in their field.