Beauties and the Beasts

6:15 am stroll around Wessie H was laden with Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and not a lot else.  The Gropper gave a few bursts from the NW field, but carried in the wind so quite quiet.  But a Gropper nonetheless.

Arcot at 10:30 am was better than yesterday; no scope so no equine 'obstruction', but as I entered the SE field, the five amigos cantered over to investigate.  Somewhat scary, I decided to stand my ground (my feet in a few inches of mud sort of assisted!); all five screeched to a halt and after a wee 'chat and pat' (no need to punch any of them), I moved on.

Heaps of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs again:

A Water Rail squealed from the west shore reed bed, and little on the water to get excited about.

Off to Wessie for another go at noon, and some BHG activity as I neared the main pool.  Bins to specs, and scan from the right.  BHG, BHG, BHG, Avocet!  And another Avocet!

Thesaurus at home; no contact with Sometimes for some big words; so the tried and tested profanities did the trick.  Like the first teenage fumble to loosen ladies upper under-garments, a pathetic attempt to text the team seemed to take an age as the brain and the fingers became disconnected, but eventually the message got through to Cleveland.

Still there at 4pm; what a duo.  Definitely a red letter day, and more of a black and white success than last week!

Chuckle Chuckle Vision.......

.........Ch-Chuckle Vision.

Tried to see what Arcot had to offer this afternoon.  No success, it pains me to say.

Mother Nature is a hard force to resist or to try and overcome.  Sometimes you have to admire her, even if she adversely affects your enjoyment.  It might be rain, or wind, or some other element, or it might be one of her creations blessed with a sense of humour and a persistence to go with it.

I hope that what was hilarious to me is equally funny to you.

Gripper!

Sunny, still, bright and warm (a little damp too) but I'll settle for that.

Wessie at dawn (ish) was quiet but for the incessant bird song - deafening.

The water was still and almost birdless with nothing to get the pulse racing, so off for a day's toil - well nearly!

Walking south past the sub-station, a quick burst from behind (oooo-errrr!) of a familiar and very welcome call had moi stop in moi's tracks.  Turning to face north, and again, a wee burst (hard to pin-point amongst all the other bird noise).

And a walk slowly through the plantation and another two or three bursts coming from the area near the old metal gate and blue drain covers (boy, does West Hartford have some outstanding landmarks!).

And then for 10 minutes, not a jot more.  But no doubt in my mind (and ears), 2013's first Grasshopper Warbler.

Nb - still reeling in short bursts late morning and has moved north so nearer the wooded edge.

Wood Wind

Today's efforts thwarted by the wind; warm but feckin' annoying!

That said, yet more Woodcock action; the first in the copse west of Victory Signs this morning, the second at Bassington NR at 12:30pm, as usual along the wooded perimeter at the north end.

Other than that, nowt!