Therfield Heath & Deadman's Hill, 12th April 2024

A morning walk with the RSPB SE Herts Group around Therfield Heath with the plan being yo look for possible Ring Ouzels and Wheatears and to see the Pasqueflowers, Hertfordshire's county flower. At the car park the Rook's were obviously used to people with this one coming very close and taking time to preen and clean its bill.

Skylark's were everywhere, filling the sky with song.

Up on Church Hill the Pasqueflowers were in full bloom. Such beautiful flowers!

We headed back through the woods seeing some commoner birds including Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap and Greenfinch as well as this Chiffchaff.

And on the golf course, a Mistle Thrush.

A very pleasant walk! Following this, a few of us made the short trip to Deadman's Hill in search of Grey Partridge and were lucky to see four pairs in the fields.

Eagle eyed Chris Gibson then spotted a bird in the distance flitting out from the hedgerow which turned out to be a female Redstart. A great find and a rather dodgy record shot!

The Wallington Road was quiet, so a last stop just north of Ashwell at the enticing dungheaps! The field had been recently cut and a Red Kite was flying low and picking up grass. I am not sure if it was after prey or using it as nest material. 

Where's there's muck, there's brass and sure enough the dungheap came good with four beautiful Yellow Wagtails.

A great end to the day.