Wanstead Wryneck, revisited

Having tried and failed to connect with the Wryneck at Wanstead Flats yesterday, Dad talks Brian into having another go for it today.

We meet up at 6.30 and with the travel chaos of yesterday gone, It's a short and straight forward journey.

Arriving shortly before 7 to find a couple of locals already on site. "No sign of it so far" was the answer to the normal birder question.

But with the habitat looking good for it and the heavy rain of yesterday afternoon and early evening we are hopeful that it's still present.

The main area of focus is the same as yesterday a tall Hawthorn bush and the surrounding scrub.

After two hours of scanning there's still no sign of the Wryneck, But there's plenty of other bird activity to keep us occupied. The tall Hawthorn bush seems to attract plenty of birds. The pick of these being a very smart looking Redstart. 

Add to this several Lesser and Common Whitethroats, Garden Warbler, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Blue and Great Tit, Dunnock and Robin all seen in this same bush and it's understandable why it's the main area of focus.

We give it another half an hour and decide to make our way round to the other side and scan from there. We get only twenty yards along the path when the shout goes up. Wryneck right hand side of bush. Running back I manage to get my bins on the bird and then grab a quick look through another birders scope. 

I have time to set my scope up and at one point I have Wryneck and Redstart in the same scope view. 

The Wryneck doesn't stay in the bush for long, But Brian re-locates it on the path and then watches as it flies into a small tree a short distance away.

Brian rings to tell me he has it, and I quickly tell the other birders where the bird has flown. It's not long before all present are back on the bird and getting great views again.