STEEP DOWN: My main target was the
Quail, remarkably still on territory, and I did eventually succeed in hearing one short burst of song from the bird. Among the grounded migrants were singles of
Redstart,
Spotted Flycatcher and
Lesser Whitethroat, plus five
Whinchats, three
Wheatears and four
Willow Warblers, while flyover action involved 20
Yellow Wagtails, a
Tree Pipit, a juvenile
Marsh Harrier and, least expected, a
Snipe. I couldn't resist constantly re-setting my scope on a nearby pylon to admire a pair of
Peregrines taking an easy start to their day, preening and surveying their territory before eventually taking off. Two
Sparrowhawks buzzed a flock of some 400
Linnets, while other farmland birds included two
Grey Partridges and 13
Corn Buntings. I also noted two
Ravens, a
Reed Bunting, two
Swifts, 11
Swallows, a
Kestrel, five
Buzzards, two
Skylarks, two
Meadow Pipits, a
Grey Heron, two
Green Woodpeckers, eight
Whitethroats, three
Blackcaps and a
Chiffchaff (DKC).
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| Peregrines at Steep Down (DKC) |
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| juvenile Marsh Harrier over Steep Down (DKC) |
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| Corn Bunting at Steep Down (DKC) |
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| Sparrowhawk at Steep Down (DKC) |
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| Spotted Flycatcher at Steep Down (DKC) |
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| Wheatear at Steep Down (DKC) |
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| Wheatear at Steep Down (DKC) |
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| Whinchat at Steep Down (DKC) |
FINDON GALLOPS: A nice stroll late afternoon produced a few good birds, the highlight being a nice
Pied Flycatcher seen moving through with a large movement of mainly
Blackcap and
Willow Warblers as they fed up on the move along the north side. There was at least 3
Redstarts around too by the horse paddocks much to the annoyance of the local
Robins who seemed intent in not letting them settle! 2
Lesser Whitethroat were amongst the feeding frenzy and there was good number of
Long-tailed and
Blue Tit forming a flock already. A young
Buzzard was perched up nearby, 2
Green Woodpeckers, 3
Song Thrush were noted. 2
Sand Martin moved through with 20c
Swallows, i left having seen some nice birds but couldn't help feeling there was more to be found out there! (NB)
Findon Gallops (NB)
