Christine's walking & birds blog

I drove to East Burnham Common and paid £2, feeling very noble. First time I've parked there since they started charging (you must pay at weekends and on bank holidays; other times it's voluntary donations, so the rather misleading notices need to be read carefully).  In summer this is the best part of the woods, with the western side losing its winter charms and Egypt Woods overrun with wood ants.

I couldn't relocate the spotted flycatcher but there were several swifts overhead, while two larger dark shapes scything over the treetops turned out to be hobbies.

A probable meadow pipit flew across a clearing and landed in a pine on the far side. I took a quick pic and tried to get closer but it flew off.  I've seen them on Abbey Park Farm's fields in winter but I didn't know they were around in summer.

Blackcaps (male and female), chiffchaffs and goldcrests were seen; and a male bullfinch seemed to be with a family party. There were loads of midge-type flies, but although the sun came out I could find no adders.