Wow, well I wasn't expecting that as I was walking up Broadcroft Quarry Lane. From absolutely nowhere I could hear Woodlarks calling and then 5 flew over my head. Before I could get the camera on them they were gone. Quite why they were heading northwest I have no idea, but the direction they were heading would have taken them across the playing fields at The Grove, just east of the Fire Station.
Hearing one is quite special, but when you have a few them calling its very special. Here are a couple of examples of Woodlark calling on Xeno-canto Here and Here.
I'm not sure how I was expected to top that and to be honest I didn't for the rest of my walk, but what was different about my walk were the number of Long-tailed Tit flocks now mobile. The flock in the lane and pool area consisted of 4 birds with a Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Great Tits and a Blue Tit, another flock was below The Cuttings and a third one at the back of Church Ope Cove.
Other birds of interest were a Redwing in the lane along with 2 Blackbirds, 3 Chaffinches and 2 Greenfinch.
Overhead, other than the Wood Lark was light passage of Meadow Pipits heading north.
Elsewhere very quiet, but with the Long-tailed Tits out and about, who knows what else might tag along with them in the future.
Here are a few images from today, sadly not of the Wood Larks.
A Buzzard is being escorted away from the local corvid patch.
No sign of any Ivy Bees, but dozens of wasps making the most of the Ivy still in flower.
No shortage of Harlequin Ladybirds........
.......with several in Penns Wood.......
.......with different variations of colour and pattern.
And a flower to ID.
Another one of those that looks familiar!!
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 5 Woodlark, 20+ Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 14+ Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinch.
Also recorded: 50+ wasps, 4 Harlequin Ladybirds and a Ladybird sp.
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On this day..........
2017Today's Sightings Here