Migrants

Over the last eighteen months or so I've spent some time trying to learn what various wading birds look like and being able to pick say a spotted redshank from a 'normal' redshank, or identify bar-tailed godwits as opposed to black-tails. Stef lives close to some excellent birdwatching on the Hampshire coast and this has helped along with visits to Blacktoft Sands, the Dearne Valley and the Fylde in West Lancashire. My next project is learning the calls / songs of warblers and other summer migrants, which helps enormously when looking at what often appear to be just 'SBJ', (small brown jobs)

Last night I was down in the Strid Woods again and heard chiff chaff, wood warbler (plus had fleeting glances), pied flycatcher (around half a dozen smart looking males around) and what I suspect was a garden warbler, holed up in a very thick patch of undergrowth. No doubt there were blackcap and redstart around too and they're next for the identity parade!