Short-toed Eagle

The very cool and wet weather has literally put a dampener on the birding seen with little that is unusual to report but I had the pleasure of watching my first short-toed eagle of 2016 circling over the house this afternoon. The bird was high yet nevertheless obviously hunting; it frequently hovered in a slow flapping manner and lowered its legs as it remained in view for about five minutes.
Other than that, the most interesting observations have been of several red backed shrikes including a solitary female in a new location for me. A few nightingales are still singing despite the abysmal weather but things may generally cheer up next week when the forecast is for much warmer and drier days.

Spotted Flycatcher

I saw the sun this evening ; it was a remarkable sight as it seems to have been absent for a couple of weeks. And it didn't rain today! but nevertheless the Bonnieure is over its banks in several places, a spectacle that doesn't appear even in some winters.
The small wood at the side of my garden is usually busy with birds: a firecrest sings from there everyday and must have a nest, and a family of recently fledged wrens were rather noisy today but it was a normally silent bird which drew my attention this afternoon, a spotted flycatcher. I always enjoy the understated plumage of this species in the same way that I like to watch dunnocks. They are one of the later summer migrants and their fondness for quiet woodlands and their unobtrusive nature makes them easily overlooked.
A short cycle ride turned up 30 something species including tree pipit, black kite, golden oriole and an obliging nightingale which allowed me to watch him singing out in the open for a minute or so.
Let's hope the sun shines again tomorrow.