Looking In The Wrong Place

Can be somewhat frustrating. Such seems to be the way with chasing stuff at Emsworthy.

After all the nonsense with invisible fritillaries last year, this time it was an after work amble in search of an alleged Great Grey Shrike.

Said shrike was in fact nowhere near the reserve, also mobile and realllllly sneaky. No pictures of it will be forthcoming, as the only close [ie under 200m!] view was a flyby..


Emsworthy when you're just wandering about is another matter entirely. Especially if you have waterproof footwear. ;) Birds bees and butterflies [well, in summer anyway] plus pretty flowers and so on. Shall we get on with it?

It's behind you

[It was, just a couple of km behind me!]

That's the famous barn in there. No sign of the reported Redstart, of course. Imho this little spot would be improved by a nest box or three, Challacombe style.

Right then, no shrikes, but lots of other birds posed for me [though none of the 5 Willow Warblers - four singing!]. Thus;

In a tree Pipit.

Nice long hindclaw and fine bill show Meadow.

Usual view

And side on

Also on rocks!

An impression of how many were about.
Likewise,

Stonechat!

Lots of Stonechats in evidence [perhaps for an obvious reason]. They even didn't fly off just as I was about to shoot. Sometimes.

I almost fainted with shock that this chap stayed put.

Not normally associated with the Moor,

several Pied Wagtails about.

Wheatear!

Another Wheatear!

Close Wheatear!!!

I've never seen a Wheatear so close that didn't come up to me when I was sat quietly [though none have yet tried the Rock Pipit routine of sit on my foot until I give them rations.!]

Want to ID a Yellowhammer?

Observe the rump!

Yeah, the head's good for males, but the rump's the one to be sure.

Time for a laugh;

"You're looking for the shrike? Hahahahahahahahaa..."

With hindsight, I should have listened to the pony...

Finally, a downer.

Mipit comes home to find a swaled territory...

Yeah.


Right then. Coming up, some on and just-off Patch nonsense with not even a 'seen but not photo'd' bird of rarity-type interest, and also some pictures of wildlife non-feathered!


Be Seeing You...