Lockdown Birding: Look more closely

This week has been about looking more closely, either in my garden at the emerging life in the pond, or on my morning dog walk, or whilst cycling round the local area.

The Little Owls are still showing well by the river, but you could easily walk past without noticing one of the little characters. Both Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats have arrived during the week and numbers of Willow Warblers have increased. Good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins are over the river, but still only one or two House Martins over the estate and no sign of a Swift yet.

Down at Colton, a seemingly barren arable field fizzed with birds on closer inspection. One White Wagtail was among half a dozen gloriously bright Yellow Wagtails, and a dozen dashing Pied Wagtails. Nearby, a smart Wheatear hopped about, showing well in the evening sunshine. Nearby, a male Stonechat fed by dropping down into a sheep pasture from a barbed wire fence. It is always worth looking a bit more closely.

On the way back, I drank in the tranquility of the sun's failing rays shining through a local Bluebell wood. How many of these things would I have seen if I wasn't restricted to the local area?