Perhaps 8-10,000 B H Gulls by dusk not knowing which way to catch a fly next as possibly billions of insects emerged this evening, forming a dense low mist around the perimeter of the Reservoir. Just two wp adult Little Gulls and seemingly all the GC Grebes joined in the fly catching bonanza, whilst the late arriving Common Gulls (adults and exceptionally contrasty first winter birds of late) and c250 L. B-backs declined to dine. The work of the Cotswold Park Ringing Group in ringing nestlings was on show - the first of at least four similar white ringed birds I have managed to confirm the code for; with previous sightings at Shippon, Appleford and Farmoor. Hope to post more info when I get a reply.
A glance up to view a sunlit low flying Merlin helicopter(?) at 18:30, meant a very high flying north bound Oystercatcher was seen (one heard and seen earlier across NW of F1) and immediately followed in same frame by a south bound fast descending Swallow which after reaching water level, continued southward. Hardly competes with yesterday's ('overwintering'!) Sedge Warbler but very probably a personal earliest nevertheless.
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