As we were on our way home, news broke that a Bluethroat had been found on the western side of Shooters Bottom. Our 26th record since 1960 although the first since 1996. We did a quick U turn and after returning to Shooters the news was that the Bluethroat had last been seen approx. an hour early.
We stayed for another hour and a half with no joy and we decided to leave. An excellent find by Keith and Bob.
Little Egret 1 feeding in the overflow car park at Birling
Grey Heron 1
Sparrowhawk 2
Common Buzzard 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine 1
Golden Plover 1 flew over Birling
Stock Dove 40 W
Wood Pigeon c100 S
Short-eared Owl 1 in rough field
Skylark 165 (120 in rough field and 45 E)
Swallow 5
Meadow Pipit 40
Pied Wagtail 10 E
Wheatear 1
Fieldfare 1
Dartford Warbler 3
Chiffchaff 3
Goldcrest 3
Starling 45 N
Brambling 4
Greenfinch 3
Goldfinch c100 E
Linnet 50
Lesser Redpoll 31
Reed Bunting 4 (3 W)
Corn Bunting 2
Little Egret feeding in the overflow car park at Birling
Golden Plover over Birling
Short-eared Owl in the rough field.
Common Buzzard over Birling
A huge Falcon (approx. twice the size of a Peregrine) causing havoc
amongst the local corvids and gulls, it even attacked a Herring
Gull.
The Falconer trying to recover his falcon.
