Wildwings and Wanderings: A 'Bash About' on Beer Head

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

A 'Bash About' on Beer Head

I ventured up to Beer Head pretty late this morning and was amazed to see that Gav was up there somewhere. ( His van was parked up, a dead giveaway that!). Amazed because normally he would have long since been and gone by then. It was 9.30. I didn't see him but inquired via mobile "Much About?" He said, yes there were good numbers of migrants about, just the commoner stuff so far, but it was well worth me " having a bash about." So I did.

There was a large flock of Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails in amongst a large flock of sheep, I only counted 14 Yellow Wagtails, but there were likely to be many more than that. I couldn't get a good look at them because I had Rex with me this morning. Talking of which, because there was so much livestock around this morning I had to put him on his lead, just to be on the safe side. (not that he normally bothers with livestock at all). I had just attached his lead when he unexpectedly pulled away from me and I dropped my end of the lead. He then proceeded to walk directly through several, wet, slimy and very freshly deposited cow pats, dragging the lead behind him. Lucky old me, I got to hold the end of this for the next two hours! Brings an whole new meaning to the phrase 'green fingers'!!! :-0

Fortunately my mind was nicely diverted from this horrible fact by the nice birds that were on show. A good 20 or so Willow Warblers, just the two Wheatears, 6 Spotted Flycatchers and a lovely, really colourful first winter male Redstart. I took a few photos with the old S3 but it wasn't easy with one hand (yes, the green one) holding on to an over-active terrier. I shan't be combining Beer Head birding with dog walking again in a hurry that's for sure. :-)