Lockdown Walks.
23rd April 2020
We have had glorious weather in the Brecon Beacons over the last couple of weeks and it’s a good job given the present horrible situation. At least people who can get out can enjoy some sunshine and warmth. I don’t want to dwell on the subject but it must be a desperate situation to be penned in with little end in sight because it’s just not good for people’s mental wellbeing. Let’s all hope for a breakthrough soon.
We are very fortunate to have access to farmland that is adjacent to our house, this gives us freedom to walk without restriction and it is a massive privilege. Over the last week we have walked on the lower slopes of a local hillside that is on this private land and we have witnessed the arrival of a number of spring migrants, Redstarts, Swallows, House Martins, Tree Pipits, Cuckoo, Willow and Garden Warblers. These are in addition to the Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps that are already in our garden. It is wonderful to hear all this bird song as we walk along and I have been carrying my Sigma 150 - 600 Contemporary lens on my shoulder. We don’t hang about and limit the walk to three miles in total, taking photos basically as we pass through the habitats.
Yesterday we were watching Tree Pipits up in the air and singing their comical song as they then descended to land, typically in a tree. They are quite entertaining to watch and one was consistently landing on a stone wall so I took the opportunity of a shot.
Notice the faint black eye stripe, pale coloured lower mandible, faint streaking to the flanks and belly and short hind claw - all different to Meadow Pipit which these birds can be confused with.
The bird was very confiding and wasn’t bothered in the least as we walked by.
A bit further on in amongst the Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Wren’s singing we could hear Garden Warbler. These birds are probably the least seen and photographed of the common spring warblers because of their shy and secretive behaviour. They are prolific singers, perhaps not as ‘Flutey’ as a Blackcap, a more strident and clipped song, but still very pleasant. I had a brief view yesterday but I was more concentrated today as we passed through the bushes where the bird was singing from. I managed a few shots before it disappeared into cover and it was pleasing to get one or two usable images, nothing too fancy but OK. We don’t get these little warblers in front of the lens very often so it was satisfying.
These birds are fairly nondescript, they have a gentle appearance with no supercillium or eye stripe. However, they do have a conspicuous white eye ring and a grey neck which are good field characteristics. The grey neck can just be seen in the bottom image above.
We are very fortunate to have access to farmland that is adjacent to our house, this gives us freedom to walk without restriction and it is a massive privilege. Over the last week we have walked on the lower slopes of a local hillside that is on this private land and we have witnessed the arrival of a number of spring migrants, Redstarts, Swallows, House Martins, Tree Pipits, Cuckoo, Willow and Garden Warblers. These are in addition to the Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps that are already in our garden. It is wonderful to hear all this bird song as we walk along and I have been carrying my Sigma 150 - 600 Contemporary lens on my shoulder. We don’t hang about and limit the walk to three miles in total, taking photos basically as we pass through the habitats.
Yesterday we were watching Tree Pipits up in the air and singing their comical song as they then descended to land, typically in a tree. They are quite entertaining to watch and one was consistently landing on a stone wall so I took the opportunity of a shot.
Notice the faint black eye stripe, pale coloured lower mandible, faint streaking to the flanks and belly and short hind claw - all different to Meadow Pipit which these birds can be confused with.
The bird was very confiding and wasn’t bothered in the least as we walked by.
A bit further on in amongst the Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Wren’s singing we could hear Garden Warbler. These birds are probably the least seen and photographed of the common spring warblers because of their shy and secretive behaviour. They are prolific singers, perhaps not as ‘Flutey’ as a Blackcap, a more strident and clipped song, but still very pleasant. I had a brief view yesterday but I was more concentrated today as we passed through the bushes where the bird was singing from. I managed a few shots before it disappeared into cover and it was pleasing to get one or two usable images, nothing too fancy but OK. We don’t get these little warblers in front of the lens very often so it was satisfying.
These birds are fairly nondescript, they have a gentle appearance with no supercillium or eye stripe. However, they do have a conspicuous white eye ring and a grey neck which are good field characteristics. The grey neck can just be seen in the bottom image above.