Tues 10th May 2011 (evening) - Wyre Forest

Firstly, I would like to apologize to readers of this blog for a lack of posts for the past few days.  Unfortunately the blogger software has been offline for 2 days causing a number of problems.  I will endeavour to catch up over the next day or so...anyway on with the post.

Just before dusk this evening myself and TS popped to the Wyre Forest to watch the roding Woodcock.  We arrived a little early at the clearing and a number of Willow Warblers, a Cuckoo, a Yellowhammer and a Tree Pipit were singing.  As we had a bit of time to spare we walked the ride to the small pool and back and on doing so we flushed a Pearl-bordered Fritilary (it's kind of strange seeing one as the light was getting dusky). 

Just as we were about to head back to the clearing we heard the high pitch ‘tsiwick’ call of an approaching Woodcock, shortly afterwards it flew over us at tree-top height making its trade mark grunting sound.  On arriving back at the clearing we heard a Tawny Owl calling and we went on to have about 10 more sightings of Woodcocks before the light diminished (roughly seeing one every 5 minutes).  At one point we saw 3 roding at the same time.  Better still I managed  to get a sound recording...a fitting end to a good day.

Willow Warbler - 10th May 2011:
If you listen closely you can also here the Cuckoo in the background
Willow Warbler - Wyre Forest 10.05.11 by Shenstone Birder

Woodcock - 10th May 2011:
This is a fairly quiet recording so turn up the volume to hear the birds grunting sound
Woodcock 2 - Wyre Forest 10.05.11 by Shenstone Birder

Bluebells at dusk - 10th May 2011: