Sunday, August 28, 2005

Another August bonus. 194 species in total.

Another snappy response to the pager called for today, but it was with a sense of foreboding that I went off in search of the Wryneck reported at Farlington - it's a tricky area to work for passerines (and near-passerines!), and I've dipped the species before there.... On arrival - no sightings for over three hours....oh dear. I worked the bushes with some success - a Grasshopper Warbler was a real bonus, plus several Garden Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats, and lots of Common Whitethroats. After about an hour of wandering around, I returned to the area where a few people were looking, and a distant wave and point suggested the bird had been relocated. After just a minute or two I had brief flight views, and then a cautious approach resulted in good views of the bird perched warily in brambles and elders - Wryneck safely on the list! Pretty elated, I pedalled home in bright, warm sunshine, feeling good. But I did ping two more spokes on the rear wheel somewhere en route....damn.