Bolam Blank

Tried the old railway line this morning, the place other than Berkeley Square where the Nightingale sang in June 2009.

Green Woodpecker yaffling in the wooded area on the east side of the access road from the main road, and another to the NE.  The famous hay bales on the west side were gone, and the surface of the 'waggonway' is not now what it was when I was there last year (25th April 2010).  It looks like at some time a nice farmer with a fancy machine has taken the top layer off.  All the wild grasses and plants have gone to be replaced by dry earth and some of the bushes have been trimmed.  The 'rustic' charm has gone!

Birdwise, two Wheatears looking pristine, hods of Willow Warblers, Great and Blue Tits, Chaffinches aplenty and Yellowhammers too.

Alas, no obvious Redstarts, but one calling from the small copse to the north of the line, about half a mile along where the small, metal-railed bridge is.  Despite some loitering, it did not appear.

And no warblers either, such as Whitethroats.  All in all, pretty quiet.