Wednesday 14th May - Staying Local

A morning trip up to Blackdown then to Woolbeding Common, in bright blue skies but still a brisk northerly wind. This part of the western Weald is known in Spring to harbour a couple of Wood Warblers , although personally I'm starting to think this is a myth, rumour also has it that if they do arrive they are later in spring to this part of the world, but now feels like the ideal time.

Blackdown was filled with birdsong on arrival, plenty of Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs competing with the residents. The local Stonechats looked like they had already bred as 3 young birds were present and there were lots of active Linnets. I located 4, possibly 5, singing male Redstarts and a single Woodlark but best of all for here was a pair of Dartford Warblers who just appeared right next to path I was on making churring type noises and  looked as if they were courting rather than nesting as they were passing grubs to each other as they moved around the bushes..

On to Woolbeding and a similar display of Warblers, but no Garden Warblers, although I had 2 Tree Pipits and plenty of Yellowhammers.

A pretty good haul over 3 or 4 hours but nothing to set the pulse racing and the Wood Warblers are remaining mythical in my book.

This afternoon at home, lots of Buzzards were visible a single Sparrowhawk and a very distant Red Kite. The skies are starting to fill with House Martins and Swifts with the occasional Swallow, the latter still showing no interest in the stable block as a home.


Looking SE from the 'Temple of the Winds' at 917 ft toward the South Downs  

male Dartford Warbler

female Dartford Warbler

female with grub received

they only have small rounded wings