Phillip, the grasshopper warbler sang for about 20 minutes from my arrival at about 6.45, then went quiet, so was almost certainly impossible to spot afterwards. The GWE was on the near bank of the Parrett from near the tower hide, but flew off up river after a few minutes.

That’s interesting to know, Simon.  I was there at 07.40 and silence, but then it was reeling there yesterday too and I could barely hear it even close too so it’s probably not worth me looking any more on my own.  I have only seen one GWE at the NNR, but one flew over the garden yesterday heading that way so possibly the same bird.

It was very quiet this morning - 14 summer plumaged dunlin on the falling tide and a couple of willow warblers along the riverbank being about the best.  Sorry I didn’t post yesterday, but apart from the grasshopper warbler, there were 6 ringed plovers on the ebb tide and 7m 1f wheatears and a male Redstart in our field (adjacent NE of Manor Farm) and still 4m 1f there today.

The grasshopper warbler was reeling in the same bushes at 7 this morning. Also a great white egret and female marsh harrier at the NNR. On the WWT site, spotted redshank, three spoonbill in flight from Quantock hide screens, and at least 4 wheatears on the fence by Polden screens.

A Grasshopper Warbler was feeding in the bushes below the Tower Hide at 09.00 this morning - my earliest UK record.  Also 2m 1f Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers.

1m Common Whitethroat in the brambles along the coast path; 1 Chiffchaff along the riverbank; 7 Swallows (4+2+1) the first 6 flying SW, the last one due S.  Odd - no obvious reason for reverse migration.

3m Wheatears in the field adjacent to Manor Farm.

Yesterday a male Redstart in the field hedge, seen from between the dog-legs along the lane.