Tuesday 1st May Whinchat

Whinchat from last Autumn (c) P. Barker

It seems that I missed a good evening on the moor yesterday as this e-mail from Steve Roby describes:

"The moor was alive with bird song yesterday evening. As you know lots of warblers are in now and we had good views of most species.
Pete and I saw 4 Hobbies although some visiting London birders reported 5 (plus 2 Marsh Harriers and a SEO not seen by us).

Still at least 9 Wheatear with a single Whinchat alongside 4 of them on Ashgrave.

The male Garganey was on big otmoor, 4 Little Egret on ashgrave and a dozen or so Swifts over the reedbed. At least 2 Cuckoos were calling and flying about.

Another visiting birder had seen a Redstart drop down greenaways. A Snipe was drumming over here too and there are quite a few Lapwing chicks marching about, mainly on big otmoor.

With a little soft evening sun thrown in it was a very pleasant otmoor evening. "

Also from last Autumn

Whinchat is the 131st species on the moor this year so far.......Turtle Dove this weekend?