Soil Hill & Whiteholme Reservoir; updates from the week

Its been an excellent week on Soil Hill so here is a quick summary of some of the highlights from the past few days.

Soil Hill 16th August

-1 Swift flew south.

-2 Grasshopper Warbler present.

-2 Wheatear.

-3 juvenile Bullfinch on Ned Hill Track.

Soil Hill 18th August

-A RED KITE flew W over Taylor Lane, but made slow progress against a strong SW breeze before dropping low over Bradshaw.

-1 immature Common Redstart was in the garden along Taylor Lane. Initially very elusive, it became more showy later in the morning.

-7 Swift flew south.

-A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling on Taylor Lane.

-2 Grasshopper Warbler.

-2 Wheatear.

A full checklist from this date can be found here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S93394174

-Common Redstart

-Red Kite

Soil Hill 19th August

-2 immature Common Redstart together in garden along Taylor Lane. On first passing c.07:00 they were actively chasing each other round, but on my return at c.09:00 they seemed to have established their own stomping grounds at opposite ends of the garden.

-9 Willow Warbler, the highest count of the week.

-3 Wheatear, also the highest count of the week.

-1 Grey Wagtail flew south.

Soil Hill 20th August

-A superb juvenile Whinchat was in the Reservoir Field but was always distant before, after about 10 mins, it flew strongly south down the Hill.

-A Tree Pipit flew north over Ned Hill Track, calling three times. 

-Just 1 Common Redstart remained in the garden on Taylor Lane.

-2 Grasshopper Warbler were still present, even uttering some short reels.

-A juvenile Sedge Warbler was at the bottom of the North Slope.

A full checklist from this date can be found here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S93477357

-Whinchat

I only had time for a couple of visits to Whiteholme This week, but there were a few birds around. The shoreline seems to have dramatically reduced since last I was up there about 10 days ago, but still plenty for migrant shorebirds to go at.

Whiteholme Reservoir 17th August

-Female Goldeneye present.

-5 Oystercatcher roosting on the shoreline.

Whiteholme Reservoir 19th August

-A superb adult GREY PLOVER was on the island. It stayed present for the hour I was there, looking very relaxed and feeding away on the island. 

-Female Goldeneye still present

-3 Wheatear

A full checklist from this date can be found here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S93437222

-Grey Plover