More migrants

Back to Staines Moor today. A late start didn't fill me with optimism about the days birding, but this quickly changed. I had only made it a few metres along the footpath between Stanwell Moor and King George VI Reservoir when I picked up the distinctive reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler (at 11:10). Unfortunately viewing was very restricted and the bird was in an inaccessible area so I had little chance of seeing it.

On the moor itself at least 20 Northern Wheatears (12 males and 8 females) were hopping around at the northern end (4th, 5th and 6th photos), and while I was trying to work out if any 'Greenland' birds were present a female Whinchat appeared amongst them (1st photo). Minutes later a stunning male Common Redstart appeared briefly in one of the hawthorns, but despite searching I couldn't relocate it. Then things got even better when a walk around the scrub at the northern end of the moor brought me face to face with a female or perhaps 1st summer male Ring Ouzel chacking away (2nd photo). While attempting to get a few record shots another bird appeared (3rd photo)!

Also noted today were 2 Common Buzzard E, 10 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin and 15+ Barn Swallow overhead, 1 Reed Warbler (heard), 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler (heard), 2 Redshank, 1 Common Snipe, 9+ Lapwing, 2 Shelduck, a Little Egret along the Colne and a Speckled Wood butterfly.