There was a more leisurely approach to the day having got home late from my game last night. The forecast was showers throughout the day and there had been a couple (3) Crane seen over Charminster yesterday afternoon therefore anything could or nothing would turn up!
First point of the day appears to have been an id error as a Sedge Warbler was blasting its brains out at the same spot at Athelhampton today. I reported a Reed yesterday and checked my previous day photos when I got home just in case there was a Reed at the same spot! The bird yesterday was more subdued in song concealing itself behind fauna in comparison to today’s showing! Sedge Warbler is a new for my Farm tally which now stands at 115 species! I have had Reed on the Farm this year on one of the ponds and the song is much slower and more regular in pattern but can be tricky if not heard regularly!
I made it to the hide in good time before the heavens opened up and remained there until after the afternoon monsoon had taken a break! I have not seen as many Red Kite as last year but a single bird obliged appearing over the ridge and circling over the Devil’s Brook. The same bird re-appeared some twenty minutes later identified by its moult pattern in the wings!
Whitethroat is beginning to show up on the farm but beyond that the afternoon was a bit of a wash out. There were plenty of Hirundines but no Hobby to chase them thus far! This is a good time of year to see Hare with many fields ploughed with some time left to buy ring side seats as these crazy creatures box it out to win a mate!