Stone Chat - Ingrebourne

Yet again i hit the alarm and turned it off, another weekend gone by where the thought of going really early to the Valley for Tawny Owl was not that appealing. As the mornings start getting lighter earlier this is going to be troublesome unless i wait until later in the year or go late one evenning.

I started up by the reservoir, checking this in almost darkness, it was pretty empty. A couple of Great Crested Grebes, Great Cormorant, Coot & Mute Swan.

I cut through the road side trees, onto the new hill and made my way round the bend to the path near Bonnets Wood. There was more Skylark activity today, more than i have seen this year so far. Meadow Pipit flitted off as i walked. As i approached Berwick Glades a female Stonechat appeared on the fence line shorltly followed by a male, both birds already heading in the same direction as i. I followed them down to the corner, still pretty dark, so took a quick record shot and moved on to the farm fields.

Not having long here, i recorded a flock of 40+ Reed Buntings. Gulls were moving over and still needing Great Black Backed Gull i spent time looking through these but to no avail. Once to the turn style at Dead Mans Wood i retraced my steps and headed back to the car.

Sonechat takes me to 68 for the year which is my best start to a year. It should be 69 but we wont talk about the red headed goosanders.

Out for only an hour but enjoyable and home for the Big Garden Bird Watch.