Gee, What a Day!

All pics today (c) 2009 Maurice Gordon

Garden Warbler

Garden Warbler - showing all its distinguishing features!
Treecreeper

Treecreeper

ditto

The day started with the equivalent of groans, as I was inundated with texts asking if the classes were still on; whilst others texted to cancel their gambol into the country . Although it was very grey and it drizzled for the 1st half-hour it did become less grim & the birds grew bolder as they came out to sing. A very confiding Treecreeper was one of the first to gladden the heart, but he was soon to be eclipsed by that gurgling, galloping, garbled songster - our first Garden Warbler of the year. This gave the most prolonged views we've had in the 6 years of the course. It was soon followed by at least three more. Margaret spotted a Green Woodpecker fly up from a path to our gauche side, and it clung to the right side of a conifer long enough for everyone to get a good view - even through a pair of great binoculars, which were passed around. There were quite a few Whitethroats in the open, scrubby area and we also had Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Jay, and Skylark, but the best birds were those that began with a 'g'. The afternoon group saw a dung beetle, whilst Peter successfully identified the pretty pink flower, whose name I'd forgotten in the morning - Lousewort. Back near the car park a pair of Swifts flew overhead - my first of the year - & the 1st year I've seen Swifts before House Martins!