Deja-vu Again

Finally, here's the post I teased you with earlier in the week.


May is here and off again go I looking for Wood Warblers, which have for some mad reason decided to go from their former wonderful showy selves to elusive little wotsits...


This time I went straight to White Wood, with no Yarnish nonsense.


There were indeed two male Wood Warblers, singing away. As far from the track as they could get.

Drat.

I tried various sneaky tricks, including all the usuals such as doubling back, flank marches, and ambuscade, but no more than a glimpse could I get. Even the Pied Flys got in on it..! The weather didn't help, it must be said, with the forecast sunshine and light winds nowhere to be seen; it was mostly overcast and the cold wind was fresh. Still, not all bad, with the odd burst of sun lighting everything up and 'tis a pleasant place

White Wood

[the Woodies were up there..] 

Oak Leaves in sunshine

More typical light

Spot the Faeries

[What?!?]
;)

Wood Sorrel

Common Dog Violet

Climbing Corydalis

Heath Milkwort

Some bird pics, now..

Willow Warbler

[with ring]

Tail damage shows this is a different rung Willow Warbler

Gotch- no, wait.

Undertail coverts too short,
tail not very forked;

it's another Willow Warbler...

Wren

Chaffinch

Away from the woods, I took some time up on the Tor to see what was flying about. Yes I was hoping for raptors, but I got something else, and a lot closer, too!

Swift!!

And not just one, either.

Proof of multiple Swifts

Interestingly, the left one seems to have a leucistic mantle - ie. a white back. Which is confirmation from my suspicion with naked eye that 'one of them looks funny'. Clearly not anything non-Common Swift, but still useful to know.

House Martin.

Giving perfect silhouette

Totally different shape to Swift and Swallow - when they pose!

Unlike when they don't

Also not quite fast enough to dodge the camera - though give them their due, range and heat haze probably led them to believe they were safe - were these;

Spot the Cuckoo 1

Spot the Cuckoo 2

Spot the Cuck-

Hold on a minute?!?!!

Just goes to show, when you're out in the countryside, you've got to pay attention. After all, you never know when standing about carelessly can suddenly have.. consequences

"If you're standing by then

you'll all get your share"

And let that be a lesson to you.
:)


Be Seeing You...