Wallington and Ashwell 31st March 2021

I took delivery of my new Canon R5 yesterday so a trip up to North Herts to try it out and see some farmland birds and possibly Wheatear. Some distant Red-legged Partridge and Hares were seen on the Wallington road and this obliging Meadow Pipit.

Up towards the model airplane field some Goldfinches were active collecting nesting material.

This Dunnock gave me the opportunity to try out the "animal eye recognition" feature on the camera, and it seems to work well, though at times worth switching to spot focus.

The short grass at the airstrip is good for birds if the planes are not flying. I managed to get there as a couple of guys were setting up and managed to see a distant female Wheatear, though there were a few Pied Wagtails, Goldfinch and Skylark. A little way further on a lone Yellowhammer was sitting up in the hedge.

Heading back to the car I decided to try and get some shots of the many Skylarks that were singing. One of the best sounds of Spring!

And so on to the dung heaps at Ashwell. Sadly no Wheatear or Yellow Wagtail (though one YW  was seen later). I had to settle for a couple of Pied Wagtails.

The best birds for me though were quite a few Corn Buntings. It was good to get this one perched nicely, rather than on a wire!

The following day I had a short visit for Amwell and certainly the Spring migrants are heading back. Swallow's, Sand and House Martin's, Sedge Warbler to name a few. Singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and two Little Ringed Plovers.

Male Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Little Ringed Plover