Fowlmere

Several hours early until mid-afternoon. Sunny but a bit breezy. Snapped an Orange Tit on Garlic Mustard and then spent an hour or so photographing three Hobbys. I also confirmed the damselflies was an Azure, heard four Turtle Doves and a single Cetti’s Warbler, and saw a small Pike hunting.
Then, just as I was leaving, a Redstart turned up along the Guilder Brook. A very smart male, though possibly first summer due to mottling on the throat, and a indistinct white merging into brown on the cap.








 
 
 

Fowlmere

A very brief visit where most of it was spent trying to see a Garden Warbler that turned out to be a Blackcap! Also, a couple of Turtle Doves heard and the first blue Damselfly, probably Azure.

Foxton

A quick search in fields for any Dotterel. No joy, just a pair of Grey Partridges. Also noted five singing Corn Buntings on the wires between along Fowlmere Road. The same three Swifts were flying around the village again tonight.

Garden

First Swifts around the garden. Three in total. Don’t know if any are “our” birds. Just hoping they return.

Foxton

First Swifts (two) over the village noted when playing tennis.

Amwell, King’s Mead, and Fowlmere

A superb morning at Amwell, gaining a Amwell and Hertfordshire bogey bird in the form of summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit! Also saw…

Little Ringed Plover
Oystercatcher
Redshank
Buzzard x 6
Swift x 30?
Shelduck
Gadwall x 4
Common Tern x 12

Then on to King’s Mead for the first time in several years where the mud produced the following…

Greenshank x 2
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Ringed Plover

Fowlmere last thing was an anti-climax in comparison! Apart from a single Swift, there were just a couple of Cetti’s Warblers (one seen) and a heard-only Turtle Dove.

Wales (Day 3)

Some proper birding today!

Colwyn Bay:
A visit to the Tern colony first thing after breakfast…

Sandwich Tern x 50
Common Tern x 5
Red-breasted Merganser – pair.
Dunlin x 6 (summer plumage.)
Mediterranean Gull – pair.

South Stack:
A walk with Michelle and the boys. Very blowy. We Searched for Adder (found none) and Common Lizzard (found a few.)

Chough x 10+
Puffin
Guillemot
Razorbill
Gannet
Fulmar
Kittiwake
Rock Pipit
Shag

Coed-y-Brenin:
This superb woodland was researched by Michelle. We walked an easy trail together for a couple of hours.

Pied Flycatcher –  male.
Dipper – pair feeding young.
Crossbill – several heard.
Wood Warbler x 4
Grey Wagtail
Goshawk