Raw Deal near Dover

In the hand, Eilat, Israel, 2003

In what is fast becoming a theme, yet again I have to report on a dip trip, this time I was only an hour late for my first UK Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, this super rare bird hurts.

http://bucktonbirder.blogspot.com/2008/06/gutted.html

Lords

Spent a great boozy day with Matt Burgess watching Freddie destroy the ozzies, not only that but also getting a 50% refund in the process - now if Carlsberg did cricket !

Fields of Barley

Barley fields in North Hertfordshire, most seem to contain calling Quails at the moment.

Three, Two, One !

Three curious juveniles near Bedford.

You must be quackers!

BTA just heard that Dan and Ed ticked the Hooded Merganser at Radipole !

Larking about

For the past few weeks I have been taking the dogs out for a late evening walk down a series of farm tracks in Gamlingay, near where I had the Hen Harrier in the winter. Whilst failing to hear Quail I have noticed up to 3 family parties of Skylarks roosting on one particular favoured track. So last night with a bit of preparation I placed a low net across the track at one end and then almost at dark drove along the track chivvying the birds towards the hidden net. Manged to catch three birds. Not that many Skylarks are caught and ringed in the UK and in a matter of days this little technique will fail as the fields on both sides of the track will be cut and I guess the birds will roost in the fields or at least flush off the track in that direction. All three individuals were recently fledged juveniles, although in a few weeks time it will be far harder to tell as both adults and juveniles go through a complete moult from late July. Maybe try it again in a few nights time.