Walthamstow Reservoirs - Pied Flycather

When The Prof called, I decided yes, let's get out onto the patch because it had been a while.  To be honest I wouldn't have headed over there on my own volition.  So a good job I agreed to this because it was a truly pleasant day.  And this was enhanced by my first ever London Pied Flycatcher supported by a decent movement of common Warblers that included a minimum of three Garden Warbler, five Blackcap, Chiffchaff, three Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, two Common Whitethroat (and a possible Lesser Whitethroat seen by Prof).

The Pied Flycatcher was initially seen in the company of a Reed Warbler perched along the concrete fenceline on the eastside of West Warwick before relocating to an adjacent hawthorn where it sallied for insects.  The bird then made one more brief appearance before disappearing again and was not refound despite a short vigil there.

A Jersey Tiger Moth flew along the treeline and rested within the foliage.

 Pied Flycatcher

Gulls are a joy aren't they?  Not only do they steal children and eat pets, the juvenile birds continue to perplex birders up and down the country.  So when this individual was seen perched up on East Warwick, it caused much deliberation in deciding whether or not this was a Yellow-Legged Gull.  I'm not certain for a few reasons but am happy to be convinced otherwise.

Postscript 11-08-15:  After much talk and deliberation about the authenticity of the presumed Gull below being a juvenile Yellow Legged Gull with fellow birders much more experienced with these beasts than me, I have concluded that this is indeed my first YLG for the patch.  The features of the bird indicate a possible YLG but having seen the bird in flight with the dark tail band contrasting markedly with the white rump.

Juvenile Yellow Legged Gull

East Warwick also produced a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, and two Common Sandpiper along the shoreline.  Three Grey Wagtail also fed along the margins.

There were a further three Common Sandpiper on No.5 and at least ten on Lockwood where six Dunlin were seen earlier by another observer.

Tracking back toward the gatehouse, another large movement of birds were evident with Long-Tailed Tit in number accompanied by a family group of Goldcrest, a few Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and a couple of Willow Warbler.

Half a dozen Red-eyed Damselfly were present on the ponds by the car park.

There is a magic within all the seasons, but today saw a marked change toward a potentially exciting autumn.