Redstart - new in and back in the gardenTook my bowl of cereal to the back window to peruse my domain as is usual and nearly sprayed it with muesli this morning. Two male redstarts were fighting for exclusive rights to the only organic lawn for miles. A year-tick and a species I still cannot believe I get in my garden. The victor is pictured above - now I will have to reward him with a suitable nest-box. Last year they fed regularly in our garden but nested just outside it. Also in the garden this morning; a song thrush (first for the garden this year) and a dunnock.
A brisk easterly wind dictated a walk along the moderately sheltered shoreline north of Båstad during the late morning. Light passerine migration evident, with finches, white wagtails and a couple of swallows passing north out at sea. The coastal woods and scrub produced little in the way of migrants, plenty of resident and recently arrived breeders singing though including a smattering of chiffchaff and willow warbler. Petersberg had a fly-over green sandpiper and a pair of red-necked grebe.
Finished the day with a hot dog session at Hålehallstugan to celebrate the birthday of No. 2. Birds here included two pairs of red-necked grebe, another green sandpiper, black woodpecker and my first jay on the patch this year.
Sounds like a great garden you have! Spring male Redstarts are always a delight to see...
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