We went on a walking weekend around Walbury Hill, Inkpen and Combe. Of course, being equally interested in wildlife we took our compact cameras with us...
Walbury Hill was heaving with birds...
There were at least half a dozen Red Kites in the area.
A very cooperative Kestrel
Meadow Pipits
Yellowhammers (thanks to Erica for this one)
Whatever this is? Winchat???
There were also Buzzards, Skylarks, thousands (literally) of pheasants, Goldfinch...
... and is that a Chaffinch sharing the sky?
We also found a farm lane that was swarming with Red Admirals and Commas, plus an elusive (as far as the cameras were concerned) Brimstone.
Oh and this guy :-)
Great area for walking with the birds as a huge bonus. Good pub/restaurant with decent rooms at the Star and Garter at Inkpen Common for that vital post walking/birding refreshment.
"Let loose the Kraken!"
What a great weekend walk you had Stuart and the views of some very spectacular birds, lovely photographs and so lucky with the sunny weather and blue sky too :)
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Regards, Hazel
It's a great place isn't it, Stuart. I've been there a couple of times and it's worth it for the views alone. Did you see any Ravens because they nest somewhere in the woods adjacent to Combe Gibbet and can often be seen flying and tumbling in the area? Last time I was up there I came across a small flock of Spotted Flycatchers probably starting their migration but they'll be well gone by now.
Lovely photos. Glad you had a good weekend.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Yes, I did see a pair, dwarfed the crows nearby. An aside on Ravens, on Crete we found they make really good raptor alarms - if you're up in the mountains and hear them making a lot of fuss, grab the binos. We probably would have missed a pair of Bonelli's Eagles if they hadn't alerted us.