whinchat on the patch

On the patch last year I struggled with migrants nothing in the spring and only 2 wheatears in the autumn .This spring has been my best year so far, yesterday 10 wheatear and a female redstart, last weekend 5 wheatear and male redstart and today a cracking male whinchat .

Also in the week a few raptors in the sunshine .

Patch birding .

No larking around

Last night after work 

the day London got hit by a mass of migrant birds 

there was a good chance of wheatear 

and the only thing between me and a photo was this bull in the field 

There are 3 wheatear in the photo behind the bull

 Anyway tonight the bull was distant so took a chance

and managed a few photos 

 While crawling on the grass to try and get close 

I came across a skylark

which was nice

redstart day two

 I was amazed yesterday that I had a redstart on the patch but today I was ready 

it only let me have this one chance of a photo on the post 

and would not let me get close again

three times i returned but would not play ball

This bird I see a few years ago

but was on the other side of a fence

much better feather detail shame about the fence

common but not on my patch

My highlight of this morning was a cracking male common redstart

my first record on northweald common shame it didn't  hang around for some better photos but more than happy I got this .

 nice to see some made the leap to join us for the summer

 Willow warblers singing

Plenty of meadow pipits as well

My treat at the seaside

When you get asked to go southend for a walk along the sea front and pier with the family and friends you have to take advantage of the delights that southend has to offer and there was plenty on offer .