A red-letter day at Swaddywell today as Mick Beeson found a female black redstart first thing in the morning, flitting from post to post around the cattle crush by the public car park.
This is a fairly non-descript bird in many ways. A robin sized and shaped bird with rather drab, faded black plumage apart from its striking red tail, which becomes visible when it flits down from its perch to feed on the ground (the male is a more striking slate black which contrasts strongly with the red tail).
Across the UK this is a scarce migrant bird and rare breeder - with some 70 pairs breeding across the country. Last year a male was seen in Peterborough city centre, exploring nest sites, but disappeared in the spring.
Today's bird is a very early migrant and very unusual so far inland - most migrants are seen on the coast.
In addition, a male and female wheatear were also at Swaddywell today. Not bad at all! There are also three pairs of lapwing in the wheat field to the west of the reserve.
This is a fairly non-descript bird in many ways. A robin sized and shaped bird with rather drab, faded black plumage apart from its striking red tail, which becomes visible when it flits down from its perch to feed on the ground (the male is a more striking slate black which contrasts strongly with the red tail).
Across the UK this is a scarce migrant bird and rare breeder - with some 70 pairs breeding across the country. Last year a male was seen in Peterborough city centre, exploring nest sites, but disappeared in the spring.
Today's bird is a very early migrant and very unusual so far inland - most migrants are seen on the coast.
In addition, a male and female wheatear were also at Swaddywell today. Not bad at all! There are also three pairs of lapwing in the wheat field to the west of the reserve.
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