Plenty of Bread & a Little Cheese

Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer
Marsh Tit
Marsh Tit
Record shot of Red Kite

A second visit to last Thursday's location, although it was much more overcast today. There were still plenty of last week's birds, but there were fewer individuals singing in the duller weather. For instance, the Yellowhammers were making their "chipping" alarm calls rather than singing, although a couple did try singing. However, the serenading Mistle Thrush was something we didn't see last week. We also saw a male Kestrel on a stump of a damaged tree. It was only later someone spotted the female near the entrance of a potential nest hole below her possible mate. We only saw 3 Buzzards, but they flew much closer to us as they rose above the Larch plantation they may have roosted in. 2 Red Kites also passed overhead, although they were slighly more distant than on Thursday. There was a very cutting icy wind on the heights, so it was almost like a return to winter at times. There seemed to be 3 pairs of Long-tailed Tits nest-building along the length of our walk. This venue will improve still further once the summer migrants start flooding in. A had my lunch elsewhere, and was pleasantly surprised to hear some sneezing, and then a Marsh Tit sang very close to my car. A Green Woodpecker was sunbathing near a fence before the morning class started. so this is something I will go looking for on brighter days!