Catch up

My quest for the singing Skylark image over the building site is pretty much at an end for now. In the last week they have gone quiet with just a handful seen on the site. After my last post a 2 metre fence went up around all of the workings making my challenge even tougher. They provided nice perches for the Meadow Pipits:

Meadow Pipit

I did get a nice perched Skylark one morning but he does look a bit grumpy, believe it or not he was singing seconds earlier but he just would not sing for me. I think I interrupted his breakfast!

Skylark

I will keep on visiting the building site and the Skylarks should spring back into life in a few weeks so I might still get the image I'm looking for, the building work is progressing fast though!

My most recent visit to Putnoe Wood to do the monthly survey was a strange one. It was so quiet around the wood and I had nearly finished the survey when I came across a party of small birds. The first surprise was a Spotted Flycatcher feeding a youngster, the first I have seen in the wood since I started surveying here. They were up in the canopy and out of photography range. When they moved into the wood I followed hoping they might come down a little lower. Surprise number 2 was a Marsh Tit, another first for me in the wood! It was a bit dark but I managed these record shots: 

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

It just goes to show you that you should never give up, I also added Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker to the survey list in that one group of birds so it turned into a pretty good morning! 

At this time of year young birds often come together in small mixed flocks as do family groups so it is well worth checking through these groups, you never know what you might find!