A cracking day with clear blue skies, sunshine and a slight NNW>3.
Took advantage of the weather today although I found that good weather for birders is not good weather for birds.
Dash 1.
Lunchtime and just 10 minutes to spare to sky watch from the top of the Dailies, target birds :- yellow billed Swans and Osprey, may as well set the target high. Neither of course developed and the skies remained empty other than the usual corvids and Magpies. One good sighting was the return of the breeding Linnets to the gorse area with several flitting about and some in song.
11 Linnet
1 Green Woodpecker
3 Meadow Pipits
+ usual sp.
Dash 2
Tea rushed down , dogs harnessed up and head for the west slope of Soil Hill via Ned Hill entrance. Target birds, Osprey and Wheatear, didnt really expect an Osprey but thought Wheatear was nailed on. Again neither developed but well worth the effort if only to watch the sunset behind the wind turbines.
An unusual sighting of a Red Grouse flushed from the heather which I suspected was around that area on Sunday, and this was closely followed by a cock Pheasant.
Most of Sundays Mipits had moved on leaving a few behind and 2 Skylarks were in the grass.
At least we know that Wheatear are in the area , see Calderbirds, so hopefully the fall will happen for the weekend.
16 Meadow Pipit
2 Linnet
1 Red Grouse
1 cock Pheasant
+ usual sp.
BS
