Eyebrook Reservoir - 16/9

A late start at the inflow and the only bird of note was a 3rd winter Yellow legged Gull which soon flew off. At the island it was nice to find 8 juvenile Ruffs feeding along the shoreline along with around 100 Lapwings and several Cormorants. In the bay to the west I found another 3 juvenile Ruffs but no other waders. During the walk along the eastern shoreline I saw good numbers of tits and at least 3 Goldcrests. Then I heard a brief call from a Tawny Owl which may have been sponsored by the presence of a juvenile Buzzard. Further along the path I noted a single Greenshank on the western shoreline and then in the reedbed by the path I noticed a commotion of birds. On examination I found at least 3 juvenile Reed Buntings, a Reed Warbler and a Chiffchaff chasing each other around the reeds. Then another bird appeared at the top of a reed briefly but looked unusual. I noticed red/buff marks under each wing on the flanks and considered Red flanked Bluetail for a moment but the bird had no white throat gorget. It then flew up into the nearby willow tree calling briefly as it did so. I now needed another view to make a more definitive ID. After around 10 minutes the bird reappeared in the reeds but it looked too light on both back and breast to be a bluetail. It then a gave a short flycatcher- like flight and disappeared once more into the trees. Given this detail and the pale eye ring and white tail sides it was clear the bird was a 1st winter Red breasted Flycatcher. It was probably a little early in the year to expect this species in Leicestershire but it was a county 1st for me and a memorable sighting. There were also at least 5 Chiffchaffs in the same reedbeds.