Back to the Patch

 What with 2 weeks in Shetland. couple of weeks to recover😢😂 and yesterday's trip to Kent to see the Eleanora's Falcon, it's been a while since I've birded local, managed a couple of hours on the patch off the Albourne Road today, just over a mile from home, arrived at 6.30 not to shabby considering!! Started well could hear a singing Yellowhammer as I was putting my boots on, followed the stream alongside the first field, not looking to bad considering it was opened up last autumn although nothing much showed could here bit's and pieces in the undergrowth on the far bank, no sign of last year's Spotted Flycatcher, turned left at the crossroads and went up the hill. the derelict barn looks like it's about to fall down, they might be going to develop it as the land in front seems to have been cleared, but no sign of any work starting, only bird of note was a Buzzard on a post and that was a silhouette😢!

Backlit Buzzard!

Things improved as I followed the path down the hill, when I spotted a Yellowhammer on the side of a bush, it was joined by an even brighter one!! which was nice.

Yellowhammer

In the first hedge at the bottom of the hill a Common Whitethroat was sunning itself, saw several around the patch but they are nowhere near as posy as they were last time out!

Common Whitethroat

Having a preen in the sunshine and why not!!

In the tall trees here was a singing Chiffchaff, a singing Song Thrush which I couldn't locate and a female Bullfinch which wasn't singing but was a nice surprise! Was also some very noisy Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the lower branches!

Bullfinch nice to get one out in the open, even if it was miles up at the top of a tree, I know, never blooming happy!😀

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, look closely you can see a youngster behind

Robin

Chiffchaff, still a few singing around the area

I went into the vineyard and up the hill, male and female Green Woodpecker, looking a bit harassed and dishevelled, presumably there's a nest full of young uns somewhere near!!

Female Green Woodpecker

Male Green Woodpecker

Some good views all around from the top!

 

Wolstonbury Hill

HPP Church

Goldfinch

Headed down to the Church, nice to see the Swallows still present energetically feeding , didn't even bother trying for pics you'll be glad to hear😀 Another Song Thrush along the road and a bubby Robin the highlights here.

Song Thrush

Robin Fledgling

Onto the Patch proper, bit disappointing no sign or sound of last years Nightingale, Great Tits seem to have had a good year, saw three family groups, and  one family of Blue Tits, lots of Blackbirds and Robins, some more Whitethroats and by the sound of it Nuthatches have been successful, though only brief glimpses as they nosily went through the treetops. definitely two family groups and possibly three though it could have been one of the first two returning!! The only bit of quality was a hunting Kestrel which hovered in front of me for a while. 

Beautiful Demoiselle only saw three of these today, last year there were loads, might have been a bit early in the day, or in the year!!

Kestrel

Left empty handed!

Another male GSW

I came back down the glades, has dried out a bit and very overgrown, turns out my summer trousers are not nettle proof!! Couple of Blackcaps the highlight but didn't pose, but the flowers look quite nice down there at the moment!

Not a bad couple of hours, not four Falcon great, but pleasant enough, could've been worse for sure!!