So the spotted flycatcher became the 100th species tick for 2015. Brandon turned up a few extra species and with favourable weather, if not a little hot in the hides - 28.5 C if the car temperature gauge was to be believed.
The usual start with a sandwich in the Badger Tearoom. Nothing on the feeders, partly due to them being mostly empty. Still on the reserve and surprisingly few people around; perhaps the Birdfair at Rutland had drawn them all away, leaving only those avoiding Rutland due to the Birdfair. On the outward trail we saw a large range of butterflies, including a beautiful small copper. While photographing a willow or marsh tit flushed from the bushes but disappeared before an ID or record shot could be taken.
The main purpose was to get onto East Marsh Pool as there were reports of ruff. 
Nothing from Wright but distant views from East Marsh hide itself. A bonus was the blue morph snow goose either cruising with greylag or sleeping just off the scrape.
In Carlton we were lucky to meet a chap who had spotted a spotted flycatcher. While waiting for it to emerge we caught a willow warbler passing by. The flycatcher eventually rose and showed high into the sky - 100.
Today's sightings (32) included: great tit, blue tit, black-headed gull, swallow, house martin, dunnock, cormorant, magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow, coot, mute swan, greylag goose, canada goose, moorhen, lapwing, blue morph snow goose, grey heron, lesser black-backed gull, shoveler, mallard, sand martin, robin, green sandpiper, ruff, teal, gadwall, willow warbler, spotted flycatcher, kestrel, shelduck and wigeon.
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