Lockdown - More walking less talking

The sunny days continued for another full week.  It has felt like deja vu all over again.  I have no idea what day it is and frankly, it is of little importance right now.  I haven't spoken to anyone in a long time - I mean apart from those 'how are you? I'm doing ok' type conversations you have with kith and kin, and the odd passer-by.  Yes - exchanging morning pleasantries with fellow lockdowners is a thing.

The morning walks have been great though - I'll stop mentioning how lovely the countryside is round here.

It's been slow going to be fair, with little variety but a fair bit of interest around the local area.

Sightings of northern wheatear have been a daily occurrence in their usual spots with six being the mean daily counts split between the airfield and The Homestead paddocks.  There have been some lovely males present.

The farmland backdrop contains a bounty of Skylark, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer dominating the airwaves.  A few Reed Bunting appear now and then.

Common whitethroat numbers had increased to six on the 22nd, and there was interest too from the flat with a flypast raven and my first swift of the year with two drifting past later afternoon.

I recorded my first lesser whitethroat of the year on the 23rd with one next to the A505 bridge on Clothall Road and another in scrub along the Icknield Way.  It was a fruitful morning with a few notable sightings.

A total of six grey partridge were counted with individuals occasionally breaking cover for a brief frenzied sprint across their home range.  Two house martin and a single sand martin flew past the airfield.  Along the Icknield Way, a coal tit called from the small wooded area (TL 27455 33194).  The real surprise was the brief hootings of a tawny owl from the same location that may have been agitated by local birds.

The 24th recorded another six wheatear and two lesser whitethroat.  Common whitethroat have now become numerous and widespread.

Another swift was seen from the balcony and an extremely high-flying grey heron had me going for a few moments.

The regular count of six wheatear were still present in their respective locations on the 26th.  Two grey partridge incongruously scampered across the airfield and a lesser whitethroat was present in the same location as one seen yesterday (TL 25801 31776).  A willow warbler continues to sing in woodland at TL 25318 31993.

The highlight of the walk was seeing this stoat run along the eastern track adjacent to Weston Hills.  It clocked me straight away and promptly scampered off into the woodland.

A yellow wagtail on the 27th along Warren Lane sang briefly before disappearing into cover.  

Another local surprise was a grasshopper warbler heard reeling along the track toward the logpiles at TL 26139 31693.  It sang intermittently for over a minute but then fell silent.  My first local record of this cryptic species.  Below is a sound recording of the Gropper.

JJ74 · Grasshopper Warbler

Six wheatear were seen again today with two on the airfield, two at The Homestead, and two along a fenceline seen from the track at  TL 25568 31757.  The lesser whitethroat was present at its favoured location.