A day on Dartmoor

Male Redstart

 A good day out on Dartmoor, a chilly start but it warmed up later in the day. Most of the usual species were found when we visited Challacombe Farm first thing,where we easily found Redstart and Garden Warbler among others and then moved on to Yarner Wood where Lesser Spotted Woodpecker., Tree Pipit and nesting Mistle Thrush were seen,as well as more Redstarts and Pied Flycatcher ( but alas no Wood Warbler). Also some rather big Wood Ant nests which I always find fascinating to watch.

Wood Ant

Bracket Fungi on Birch

Mistle Thrush at nest

Mistle Thrush feeding young. ( photographed at a distance with a long lens)

Goldcrest

Tree Pipit

Garden Warbler

Female Redstart

Hawfinch

 Surprised to hear of a report of a Hawfinch visiting  feeders in a local garden ,most reports of good birds are from right down west so something on my doorstep made a change. I contacted the householders and they kindly allowed me to go and take a look. Only the fourth I've seen in Cornwall I think.

A day on the moor

 Decided to have a day out on Bodmin moor, mainly to look for and hopefully get some photos of Cuckoo. I knew where to find them but getting close enough was never going to happen. At least five males flying around the area calling and one female heard bubbling but always too far away. There was also a pair of Green Woodpeckers in the place I have always seem them but I just cant find where they have made their nest, I'll find it one day. A nice surprise though was at first hearing a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and managing to creep up and see it at close quarters. The other usual moorland species were in good numbers including Wheatear, Redstart, Stonechats and Linnets. I also happened on a pair of Grey Wagtails feeding young in a nest beside a small stream and sat watching them for some time. 

Robin bathing

 I reckon the garden birds will be glad of the rain that is forecast, it will have been hard finding food for their young in the hard ground. Here's a Robin enjoying a dip in my pool which I have made sure  has been kept topped up during the recent dry spell.