Tuesday 18 May 2010

'Ead Said Woodward

With a glorious day, and a few hours spare, my 'ead said that I should travel woodward to Beacon Hill again.  Good move!  Quieter than yesterday in terms of quantity, but quality was better.  Cuckoo calling like a good 'un, Green Woodpecker 'shouted' once, three Spotty Flies seen (one nearly flew into my head as I walked along and then veered off and sat in front of me not SIX feet away - MAGIC) including a pair checking out a nest site (will return soon and see if it was successful) and the Marsh Tit pair were in full feeding mode, their nest duly located too.  Male Redstart seen, and lots of other stuff.  Some great views of a GS Woodpecker, the majority of the Spotty activity was between the third parking place and the entrance to Beacon Hill House, on both sides of the road.

Ma Sharrier

Met her yesterday evening 'up north'.  She wanted to stay and read in bed, but was encouraged to get up and move about by the need to eat.  Being bigger and darker in colour than some of the locals, she was harrassed by two of them on more than one occasion, but gave as good as she got and they backed off.  She's a bit of a stunner!

Monday 17 May 2010

So Far, So Good

After yesterday's  debacle, where TalkTalk and the weather combined to ground me, I was determined to escape and try and emulate Davy Tee's successes.

Taking the pup for her lunch time 'poop and scoop', I saw/heard a Garden Warbler on the r/about o/s the WHBP.  Nice albeit short views!

Off to Beacon Hill Wood for 1:30pm, and after a hour located a Spotted Flycatcher, a pair of Redstarts in the same location as Saturday, Green Woodpecker and Cuckoo heard but not seen, two Marsh Tit, one Willow Tit, Great/Blue and Coal Tits too, and Willow WarblerWren, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Buzzard and many others.

A crackin' two hours in total, and a few dusky hours up the coast planned for this evening.