....... and Dunlin which had flown in to join the (now visible) LRPs. This must augur well for next weeks 'all dayer' when it's hoped to beat the September tally of 78 species?
It was sort of downhill thereafter with some moments of excitement along the way! Dippers seemingly everywhere we went - at least four individuals!! Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Curlew and Red Kite on the Longmynd......
The Ring Ouzels had scarpered! Never mind, Bridges was Pied Flycatcher central - I've never seen so many - all queuing up to have their picture taken (except it's a bird cruise and the camera isn't allowed to delay things!!)
Chelmarsh produced the only Cormorants of the day, plus Reed Warbler. Sadly the Cuckoo didn't cuckoooo! The Bridgnorth / Badger area gave us Red-legged Partridge (more difficult than Grey?? That's a first!) Corn Bunting
and yessssss a Kestrel after waiting half the day to see one!
Four more birds on the Wrekin took us past the 80 mark - three Wood Warblers, a Coal Tit and most unlikely catch of the day - a Sparrowhawk wondering how on earth he missed the plucky Blackbird that escaped? Unless you've done a bird race it's difficult to understand how exciting birds you don't 'expect' or plan to see are, when they just turn up out of the blue!
There was just one more bird to add - the Wood Lane Garganey ......
The final tally of a really enjoyable day, with little effort was 85. One day the 'ton-up' will come? Maybe May will see me sparking up enough enthusiasm to do it all again??
I took quite a few images of one Dipper = a separate post.......
