Funny Bunny

Plenty of these about the other day.

Also found a couple of pairs of Ring Ouzels.

Incoming

Had a pretty productive day at Barmston without scoring massively. A Whimbrel on the beach was good first up and with a singing Reed Warbler in the reedbed I had managed to get 100 up for the patch challenge. No sooner had that happened than hirundines and Swifts were hammering through. No red rumper but plenty of House Martins which were new for the patch year. A Corn Bunting continued to sing which is corking to hear.

At the northern end of the patch a Peregrine made a failed pass at a Feral Pigeon but this I assume was a brief failure judging by the way it tracked the flying rat to the horizon. A smart female Wheatear was cool and looked pretty beefy. In the drain which demarks the northern boundary sat a very cool female Common Scoter giving excellent views. I gave it plenty of room as it was obviously distressed by my surprise appearance.

South of Barmston was pretty lean in the hedges but I did have a brief bit of excitement as I added Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Blackcap to the year list. 107 now which is great. I have been birding during the week but I cant really talk about it at the moment. What I can disclose is the amazing views of Badger, Fallow Deer and Common Lizard in the between times.

Corny

I managed a quiet afternoon yesterday at grabbed a couple of hours at Barmston where I bagged 6 year ticks and jibbed a couple more. First up were a bunch of Sedge Warblers singing away in the reedbed. I was hoping my thunbergi wagtail would be present in the pipit field but the vegetation has grown up a lot since my last proper visit over a month previous. Whilst checking it out a familiar song rang out. Corn Bunting. This is a thinly distributed bird here so I thanked my lucky stars and managed a record shot of him trying to get the ladies in.

The first of a small number of Swifts sallied overhead. A female Sparrowhawk failed to surprise anything much. Walking back to the car a single Sandwich Tern was resting on rocks, my third year tick of the morning.

I had a quick walk further round adding Yellow Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper which was sat on the outfall towards Ulrome. A bit of a surprise on the coast.

Down by the drain I jibbed Whitethroat and Reed Warbler - both being elusive after quick bursts of song. Next time...

Last weekend I spent plenty of time in the garden and I did a little macro photography and managed this shot of Eristalis pertinax with the diagnostic face stripe.

Pretty happy with this one!