Out and about lately

More walking than birding over the past few days.

Good to see D.Br. as we went up the Bonnet this morning and also good to see RH on Ned Hill Track one evening,

Tough going of late - the ground is bone dry in most areas of my saunter now.

I am going to have to visit a reservoir or three, on my exercise walks soon, to augment this years birding list. Not sure about access though - I know Ogden remains closed.

(Still no House Martin seen).

A Buzzard over Bradshaw, Sunday, was being mobbed by a 'Corvid' (with an 'r').

I scoped another Buzzard  from my garden, over Roper Lane area.

This one was being mobbed by a very light coloured smaller Raptor.

c40 Starlings, a day or so ago, descended en-masse onto next doors' 'field/garden' seeming to find loads of worms without much effort.

Starlings are zooming about feeding young now.

Today was sunny and very warm (in places) the stiff westerly was very noticeable throughout though,keeping bird song at bay I would imagine.

I had a walk through the fields to Ned Hill Lane, a grunt up Ned Hill Lane to Ned Hill Track.

A double grunt up to the top of Soil Hill.

I came back along Soil Hill track, Percy Rd and Taylor Lane.

A skulking bird remained hidden in the small bushes along Ned Hill Track (a lifer no doubt).

Birds:

Bradshaw Fields: 2 Swift. Swallow, Loads of Jackdaw.

Ned Hill Track: Swallow , Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Whitethroat, Linnet.

Soil Hill: 4 Swift, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Linnet. 

No singing birds in the north side bushes here today.

Taylor Lane: Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail.