My longest walk yet which took me along East Weare, via Bumpers Lane, up the cliff path to The Grove, past the Outdoor Bowling Green, along the fields behind the Grove, down Broadcroft Quarry Lane and then back home.
My walk today
Main highlight was when I returned with a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the back garden. Other highlights were 5 Stonechats along the clifftop path just beyond Bumpers Lane. There have been several Stonechats here for the past few days, perhaps they are over-wintering here.
A pair of Peregrines put in an appearance by the Grove Cliffs and as I began to walk up the slope I acme across lots of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the low-lying shrubs. What a great place this is.
This is on top of the cliffs behind Bumpers Lane. Lots of Stonechats here.
Here are 2 males.
Another male
and another
Another shot of 2 males
And a female
Looking south
This mass of Ivy just before "The Cuttings" is still good for Ivy Bees.
Though this one landed on the track in front of me.
A few seconds later it was off and back on the Ivy.
Not sure what this is. Will hopefully ID later
One of two Ravens on the Grove Cliffs.
The track up to the Grove. Ted's leading the way
This track was great for warblers with Blackcaps everywhere. Here's a male....
....and another. Plenty of females here as well. And lots of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in amongst them.
A nice surprise when I got home with a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flitting around the garden
Birds Recorded: 2 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 2 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, 2 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit, 3 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, 12+ Robin, 5 Stonechat, 12+ Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 12 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 15+ Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, 2 Raven, 50+ Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 2 Siskin, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
Also 3 Red Admiral, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 3 Ivy Bees