Today (Sunday ) I had a little more purpose and went to Blackdown early I was there just before 7am.. The potential was for mist and fog as it was foggy in Fernhurst when I left, but surprisingly it was completely clear on Blackdown, with the valleys wearing the fog.
It was very active with birdsong and activity despite breeding being in full swing and the song starts to tail off and the adult birds get weary trying to raise offspring - very similar to our adult world too !
I had a good number of warblers with the best being 3 singing Garden Warbler also 3 Willow Warbler, at least 4 Chiffchaff and 4 Whitethroat.
It was great to hear that wonderful sound of Woodlark, with 2 singing birds also 5 Stonechat. Young birds were in evidence with 2 or 3 family parties of Crossbill with 8+ birds, similar numbers of Siskin and Linnet. There were 2 Tree Pipit with one still singing. A vocal Cuckoo and at the Southern end a fine male Redstart in song.
The surprise was a daytime churring Nightjar, I had two 5 10 second snatches of this, but couldn't easily locate the exact position but I know up to 5 males have been noted here this Spring.
...but I only saw 1 Swallow. Despite seeing a large influx of Swallows on the South coast earlier in Spring there seems to be a real paucity around here, I am not seeing the occasional bird fly past at home, which I did in previous years as they obviously had nearby territories - where are they all ?
A really good couple of hours with plenty to see - before the dogs arrived in force.
Later in the morning at home I had an hour which seemed to be the pick of the day for raptors with 4 Common Buzzard ,2 Hobby sightings, annoying a flock of Swifts and House Martins, 3 Sparrowhawks circling together, a Raven, a Peregrine that purposely flew South and a Red Kite. The other bird of note was a Skylark which was song-flighting high above the house.
The rain set in about 2.30 and continued with overnight thunderstorms and started again around 9am Monday - for the whole day !! No surprise there then for a Bank Holiday.
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| Garden Warbler |
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| Woodlark |
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| Stonechat |
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| View of the fogbank over Fernhurst |
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| Redstart |
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View north into Surrey
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