What a change from yesterday’s rain and blustery wind, to today’s sunshine and gentle breeze – and with it comes a different walk!
The sound of bird song from the Wildlife Area indicated the bird ringers were in again, adding to the research on bird movements around the globe. Not to be fooled by the songs, I continued to the Large Copse where a constant fluttering and flitting between the branches of the Black Pines attracted my attention.
The pale edges to the feathers on the wing as it perched allowed me to see the Spotted Flycatcher, a wonderful chance as it then spent a few minutes dashing down before returning to its perch, showing every now and then its dappled chest. Another Spotted Flycatcher then appeared splitting my attention.
On another branch, a dark-legged Chiffchaff was hopping then teasing its bill into the crevices, while nearby amongst the leaves of the Sycamore, a much brighter and more yellow Willow Warbler was also searching for invertebrate food.
Overhead Swallows were swooping and swinging around, looking directly up at them make for glimpses of pale undersides, dark back and occasionally long tails, however the smaller triangular Sand Martins more difficult but as they continued their flight above the meadows their true identification became known.
Through the woods, the crick in my neck easing, a flash of red alerted me to a Redstart. As it landed on the thick Blackthorn and Bramble hedge the buff front faced me, but still the red tail was flicking.
The seeping squeak of a Bullfinch made me search the Hawthorn bushes (with binoculars!), discovering this super bird in amongst all the mass of haws.
Two Chaffinches squabbling in the Dogwood, white wing patches flashing as they moved. Two Lesser Whitethroats emerged from the blackberries making up the hedge in Saxon field. Just near the office a Robin was perched, making a constant ticking call.
A Meadow Brown and a Small Heath fluttered up from the long grass.