Staines Moor: 7 May

Little change from two days ago with passage migrants again almost non-existent in the fine weather, presumably passing straight through high overhead. 2 Spotted Flycatchers together at the south end of Bonehead Ditch were the highlight, and 1 Reed Warbler (in scrub at the north end of the Colne), 4 Common Swift and 8 Barn Swallow (4S, 3N, 1W) were the only birds seemingly moving through.

1 of 2 Spotted Flycatchers at the south end of Bonehead Ditch today

Migrant Reed Warbler singing in scrub along the north end of the Colne today

Summering warblers were very much in evidence today. The Grasshopper Warbler showed briefly twice, and 1m Garden Warbler (singing in the west hawthorns), and 1 Reed Warbler (bridge to Stanwell Moor), 9 (1H) Sedge Warbler, 13 (2H) Common Whitethroat, 1H Lesser Whitethroat (west hawthorns), 6 (4H) Chiffchaff, 9 (3H) Blackcap (inc. 4m, 2f), and 3 (2H) Cetti's Warbler (Butts Pond, bridge to Stanwell Moor) were also logged.

Other summer visitors noted include 3 Hobby (hunting insects over the two wooden bridges late afternoon), 1+ Common Tern (Colne), 2+ Redshank (Colne), 2 Common Shelduck E, 10 Reed Bunting (6m, 3f) and plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Found a Long-tailed Tit building a nest close to the predated nest and another pair nest buiding in a hawthorn in the NE corner, though I couldn't get close enough to find it. Also found a Carrion Crow sitting on a nest in the Bonehead woodland. Worryingly, where are our Cuckoos?

Long-tailed Tit nest in the early stages of being built in the NW corner today

Also noted were 1m Stonechat with what was probably the female, but very distant (SE corner), 2m Goldcrest (both singing in Bonehead woodland), 3+ Little Egret, 6 Red Kite, 1f Kestrel, 1-2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 2 (1m, 1f) Pied Wagtail (Colne), 1 Coot (Colne), 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Canada Geese S, and 1 Grey Heron.

3m Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens along Bonehead Ditch were my first of the year, and butterflies seen include 1 Speckled Wood, many Orange-tip (including 1f), several m Brimstone, and 2 Peacock. Finally, found a dead Grass Snake beside the Colne at the north end today - only my second record for Staines Moor (thankfully my first record was a live one).