After my excellent walk this morning I headed off to the Obs, in search of Willow Warblers. When I arrived I was told there was a Common Redstart in the Hut Field and in the Top Fields a Common Whitethroat.
So first walk was around the huts and eventually I came across the Common Redstart, perched on Hut No. 7. Annoyingly my fieldcraft let me down and it flew off behind the hut, not to be seen again.
All around this area though, there were dozens of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps., but I could I find a Willow Warbler. In fact it took a walk around the Southwell Barns before I eventually tracked down 2 birds working their way along the hedgerows.
There was no sign of the Common Whitethroat, but along with the Willow Warblers, there were more Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps here as well.
Here are a few images from late morning:
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Common Redstart, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 20+ Blackcap, 20+ Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock.
Top Fields were there were many Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers moving through.
Two male Blackcaps.
A female Blackcap.
Great when they come to you. A Chiffchaff.
Such a shy bird. A Song Thrush gathering food.
A Small Tortoiseshell with wings partially closed and when the sun came out.....
.........open.
Looking across Culverwell to the Obs and the The Lighthouse at The Bill.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Common Redstart, Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 20+ Blackcap, 20+ Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Peacock.
Barleycrates Lane and Reap Lane
A change of plan this morning, I was going to visit the Obs first thing, but decided to have a walk around Barleycrates Lane and Reap Lane instead. In fact even when I arrived and parked up at Reap Lane I then made a choice to walk anti-clockwise so that the sun wasn't going to be in my eyes walking down Barleycrates. Two great decisions as it turned out, as the first bird I came across was a male Ring Ouzel feeding below the brambles in one of the paddocks to my right Here.
It was quite flighty and at time would fly up into the bushes before dropping to to the ground to feed. Eventually it disappeared behind some tall grass and I decided to carry on my walk. My next target bird was a Common Redstart, but sadly not on this particular walk.
Other highlights along here were 2 Blackcaps and several Chiffchaffs. One of the Blackcaps was skulking through the hedge I was stood next to and singing away with a sub-song. As I walked away and left it, it was no longer audible even 10 feet away.
From Barleycrates I carried onto the west cliffs and north up to the junction where the track takes you down past the barn at Reap Lane. Sadly nothing was found along here other than a few Skylarks and dozens of Starlings, though later on Twitter a Common Redstart did eventually appear.
Here a few images and a audio video from this morning:
A male Blackcap stops off on its migration and starts singing a sub-song in the bushes next to me.
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Dunnock, Blackbird, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Also recorded: Dozens of 7-spot Ladybirds
A change of plan this morning, I was going to visit the Obs first thing, but decided to have a walk around Barleycrates Lane and Reap Lane instead. In fact even when I arrived and parked up at Reap Lane I then made a choice to walk anti-clockwise so that the sun wasn't going to be in my eyes walking down Barleycrates. Two great decisions as it turned out, as the first bird I came across was a male Ring Ouzel feeding below the brambles in one of the paddocks to my right Here.
It was quite flighty and at time would fly up into the bushes before dropping to to the ground to feed. Eventually it disappeared behind some tall grass and I decided to carry on my walk. My next target bird was a Common Redstart, but sadly not on this particular walk.
Other highlights along here were 2 Blackcaps and several Chiffchaffs. One of the Blackcaps was skulking through the hedge I was stood next to and singing away with a sub-song. As I walked away and left it, it was no longer audible even 10 feet away.
From Barleycrates I carried onto the west cliffs and north up to the junction where the track takes you down past the barn at Reap Lane. Sadly nothing was found along here other than a few Skylarks and dozens of Starlings, though later on Twitter a Common Redstart did eventually appear.
Here a few images and a audio video from this morning:
My first Ring Ouzel this year.
A striking male which was feeding in the Horse paddock close to the brambles for cover.
This is the paddock where the Ring Ouzel was this morning
A male Blackcap stops off on its migration and starts singing a sub-song in the bushes next to me.
So many 7-spot Ladybirds in this area.
A view along Barleycrates Lane.
The coast path looking south.........
.......and north towards Chesil Beach and Wyke Regis.
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Skylark, Dunnock, Blackbird, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Also recorded: Dozens of 7-spot Ladybirds
Ships Today
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.