By invitation I visited Holmethorpe again today for their annual Spring Bird Race and spent some 7 enjoyable hours in the company of local birders Graham (Birding with the Old Grouse) and his wife Sue, Ian, Richard, Steve (North Downs and Beyond) and Gordon plus Tricia (Tricia’s Tales).
For me this was less of a race and more of a stroll around Graham’s local patch. My total for the day, seen and or heard was a respectable 65 with new sightings for this year of Garden Warbler, Swift, Sand Martin and Hobby. After I departed for home Richard located Red Kite! The most common sounds throughout the day came from singing Blackcaps (I counted 14) and Common Whitethroats. Other notable species seen were a male Pochard, Common Sandpiper, Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and male Bullfinch plus Lesser Whitethroat (heard only). 
Cormorant catching the suns rays
Green-veined WhiteOther species seen were Orange Tips, Speckled Wood & Peacock Butterflies.
'Noddy' the bull
Great photos as always!
ReplyDeleteThat comorant spreading his wings was especially amazing!
ReplyDelete...sounds like an interesting and fun time, especially since you were with so many of your birding friends. Seven hours of birding is wonderful. Lovely photos. I like your cormorant with his outstretched wings, but my favorite is Noddy the bull (with the very large noggin!)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting to read you post and Tricia's about the day. It sounds like a most enjoyable day.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to meet you Frank!
ReplyDeleteA good total though Frank.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you all had a really good day.
Sounds like a perfect day!
ReplyDeleteOh! I love the bull!!! Great photos!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good time was had by all! Thanks for showing the great photos.
ReplyDeleteHi "Earlybirders". Once again I am glad that you also enjoyed my birding day out. We were very fortunate with the weather beacause today it rained & the forecast is similar for tomorrow. Just my luck as I'm taking a few days off.
ReplyDeleteSteve (G), it was good to put a face to the name & congrats on finding the most birds (76). It obviously paid off getting up early despite the interuption by the 'law'!
Kelly, I might have known you'd have a soft spot for Noddy!
That was a good list Frank including Noddy.
ReplyDeleteHi Frank, it turned out an enjoyable day despite the low number of birds. Noddy sends his regards.
ReplyDeleteWhat an astonishing number of sights! The type of stuff we live for!
ReplyDelete*I Donated to Cornell Ornithology!*
http://www.opticsplanet.net/cornell-lab-of-ornithology.html
Sound like a great day out Frank with some good sightings. I loved the photo of the butterfly.
ReplyDeleteI also loved the previous post with the encounter with the Roe buck, great stuff!
Roy & Graham. Thanks guys, just a pity we didn't run into "Big Ears"!
ReplyDeleteJan, It was excellent & the sun shone. Glad you also enjoyed the watcher being watched.