Christine's walking & birds blog

A Cetti's warbler gave a burst of song at the wetlands early this morning, and a little egret and two swifts were present.

Out on the airy common, a whitethroat was seen picking up food from the ground - but two whinchats really made my day.

The gates into the lakes were tied, with signs to say the site was closed for a private event - but it was a very quiet event! A red kite and a lesser black-backed gull were circling ever lower over a dead rabbit on the road near the ash tree.

We returned to Ashdown Park this week to do a 10-mile walk on a mostly sunny and fairly breezy day.

Two wheatears were on Weathercock Hill; and a whinchat was with corn buntings in wheat in Whit Coombe. (There are too many "wh"s in that sentence!) Two more wheatears were up on the gallops.

Best of all, coming back across Weathercock, we spotted at least five whinchats far out in the wheat on the top of the hill.

We didn't get rained on this week, and Greger did not get lost in the woods. A nice day.

At least four swifts were hunting over the Jubilee River this rainy morning with house and sand martins.

I was almost upon the sparrowhawk before I realised it was there. Later I saw it in pursuit of a swallow, but the swallow escaped. Strange that when the bird is in flight, the white spots are not visible.

A peachy wheatear was on the common this morning. It flew from the roof back out over the common and I lost it.

Two swifts and a hobby were hunting, and I heard but never saw a greenshank. A kingfisher and a singing chiffchaff were at the weir.

(Later: seeing a report of a little egret at the wetlands reminded me that I saw two. Not oneupmanship this, but interesting because as they flew about they called, and I think it's the first time I've heard them make any sound at all. It was a growly sort of "Ow".)

Target bird was a whinchat on our round walk from Ashdown, near Lambourn. A wheatear on Weathercock Hill seemed to bode well, although we had only a brief glimpse before it dashed away from us on a strong gust of wind.

The only other notable birds were four yellow wagtails and lots of willow warblers.

At the end of our walk, as the heavens opened, we entered the woodlands for the first time from the north-west side, and Greger suggested he go on to the car where he could read the paper and have a coffee while I did some birding. He set off confidently, and I soon found a large flock containing blue, great, marsh and long-tailed tits, goldcrest, yet another willow warbler and spotted flycatcher.

Eventually realising that quite a lot of time had passed, I guiltily set off for the car park. I came out onto the green ride and walked towards the house only to hear someone call out. I turned round.....

There was something about seeing Greger come striding out of the woods behind me, half an hour after I'd watched him stride off ahead of me, that made me collapse with laughter. He usually knows exactly where he is, but today he "became disorientated". (He means he got lost.)

It was quite nice to have a good laugh, given that the lack of birds on the downs and the fact that we were soaking wet was enough to make anyone cry.

At six-thirty this morning two Cetti's warblers were vocal around the boardwalk area on the wetlands. As I walked downstream a greenshank flew over the south bank and up the river, landing on the tip of an island long enough to allow me a record shot. At the other end of the island, a snipe was feeding.

A cruising hobby sent the swallows into hysterics - but I couldn't see the three swifts that were here last night.

At six-thirty this morning a Cetti's warbler was singing and chattering on the wetlands. Two willow warblers were moving through bushes "hoo-eet"ing.

A second Cetti's was again singing along the stream on the edge of Dorney Common, and there was a handful of yellow wagtails with the cattle.

A grey wagtail was at the weir and a common sandpiper was foraging on a raft of algae.

A little grebe (first I've seen for ages) was wearing a becoming scarf of weed. Four snipe came flying over calling and went down on West Marsh. Plenty of reed and sedge warblers were evident, and the Cetti's was still vocal when I left at eight.

I set off from Bury Down car park intending to do one of our Saturday routes. But on the bridle path to West Ilsley I heard that fatal "hoo-eet" that signals the presence of a redstart from hawthorns on the narrow sheep field. So I sat on the bank and waited.

When a willow warbler finally emerged I thought I'd made a mistake - but eventually another bird flew from the top of one tree to another, its tail a gorgeous flame of orange. It was distant but I was thrilled to see one here again - fourth year running.

In fact, it was a walk of yellow birds. The bushes along Churn Road held at least three very yellow willow warblers and a yellowhammer carrying food was on the wires. (One was seen at Bury Down carrying a large grasshopper. Must still have young, I suppose.)

Rain forecast - rain never stopped me! - only cissies stay at home blah blah - stride out into Beeches - good start - at least three willow warblers with large tit flock, one singing - bacon sarnies eaten - deluge begins - cagoule on - shelter sought under dripping trees - rain rains on - and on - drenched Alsatian slinks past - followed by drenched owner - wringing wet by now - no birds - rain finally stops - down to pond (of all places) - consider taking photo of ducks stacked up on bit of fencing - can't be bothered - back to car - trousers sticking to legs - drive home - small diversion for emergency Maltesers - find photo I didn't take taken (better probably) by someone else on Bucks website - resolve never to bird in the rain again.

(With apologies to Jane Austen)

Between showers this evening: near the late lamented Manor Farm car park blackberries and elderberries are ripening, and a whitethroat, two blackcaps and this garden warbler were in the bushes.

A snipe flew over Dorney Common calling this evening. There were juvenile blackcaps in the hedgerow, and a lesser whitethroat showed itself for a nanosecond after a brief snatch of song.

Among the plantations in the lake grounds were scruffy, lisping chiffchaffs and lusciously yellow willow warblers.

Taplow garden

This looks like just a rather drab moth - but there's a bit more to it. For one thing, it's big! It flew away as I opened the door in the morning and I wasn't sure if it was a tiny bird or a large butterfly.

Research on the internet revealed it to be a Red Underwing; and the flash of colour when it flutters about makes this a lovely moth to see in flight.