Old Lodge (13 April 2014)

Sunday 13 April.  Highlights of a pleasant morning at Old Lodge with John King were 2 Wood Lark, 2 Tree Pipits, 4 male Redstarts, Treecreeper(s) visiting a nest site with moss, a Raven tangling with a Buzzard, flocks of 15+ and 2 Brambling, 2 Redpolls and a male Crossbill.  We heard a Cuckoo but it was never close and not in an area that was approachable.  An afternoon walk around Mill Hill with Megan was almost birdless.

Redstart at Old Lodge

one of our most attractive summer visitors

its gape is as bright as its underparts

a brilliant bird

Willow Warbler

Brambling

we saw a flock of at least 15 soon after arriving at Old Lodge and later two together of which this was one

Common or Viviparous Lizard, the smaller of two seen in close proximity, it was about 2.5" long.

the larger lizard, this one was about 4.5" long