We spent about an hour on the Hill; arriving at 7-20am, first bird seen being a Corn Bunting 'jangling' from the top of bush (2 more seen later). The songs of Skylarks filled the air, with possibly 20 birds, either singing from on high or chasing each other at ground level. Yellowhammers sang from Hawthorn bushes where they're colouring, gave them excellent camouflage in the morning sun.
A hand full of Meadow Pipits perched on the top of the few remaining low bushes, quite why the National Trust have massacred the scrub I don't understand, they could have taken out a few of the bushes at a time. Stewart spotted a male Stonechat low down on the fence line, flew to the ground, where it performed a kind of wing quivering display, in the manner of a Dunnock. Flew further along the fence where it was joined by a female, the pair accompanying each other as they ranged over the hillside perching on top of the few remaining stems of vegetation. A pair of Long-tailed Tits continually returned to a particular Bramble bush. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap were all in song.
View of College Lake from the Octagon Hide.
3 Reed Warblers sang from the reed fringed ditch, along the path to the Octagon Hide.
As did 3 Willow Warblers.
From the hide this single Little Ringed Plover could be seen at close quarters as it made it's way up the grass bank.
At the waters edge a Redshank revealed the ring on it's right leg, as it engaged in a bit of scratching.
A pair of Canada Geese were protective of their recently hatch young.
Don.
Images Copyright : Don Stone/Stewart Dennis.
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