Monday, May 10, 2010
Swinley Forest
Yesterday's 12-kilometre walk began with a singing firecrest just above me - my first one here.
A tree pipit was remarkably confiding, flying towards me and landing in a small tree nearby. I struggled to get my rucksack off and the straps undone, muttering: "You won't stay there, will you? You'll fly before I can get the camera out, won't you?" But it didn't.
I even took a few steps towards it and it simply scratched its head and watched proceedings with interest. I ought to have repaid this obliging behaviour with a decent photo - but I have a good excuse in the glumness of the day. The pipit preened a little, sang a little, gave me an old-fashioned look as I packed up again - and was still in the tree when I walked away.
Stonechats, whitethroats, swifts, chiffchaffs, willow warblers, treecreeper, nuthatch, gold crests, and a male redstart were also seen; and I watched a woodlark singing from the top of a pine tree.
Twenty to thirty calling crossbills were a lovely sight as they flew in a bounding flock across the danger area and landed in a pine tree right next to me. I did learn one thing (not the hard way fortunately): never stand under a pine tree crossbills are feeding in. Several cones came down, and each one landed with quite a thud!
A male siskin low in a ditch was the last good bird of the day. I didn't manage the lesser spotted woodpecker at Caesar's Camp, I failed to see or even hear any Dartfords and I only heard cuckoo and tawny owl in the distance - but it had been a very enjoyable birding walk.
// posted by Christine @ 3:02 AM 
