Walking across the site, it was impossible to miss the fluid, descending songs of tree pipits and the scolding calls of Stonechats. Whitethroats, Willow warblers, Skylarks and more followed. But it was seeking out a strip of deciduous woodland that led my favourite encounter of the morning. It looked like a good spot for redstarts and so it proved, as not more than a minute had elapsed before a small spark of a bird flicked through the trees ahead of me. Glancing up I saw it was a male Common Redstart, a bird I don't see much in my corner of south eastern England. Of all our migrant birds, arriving in spring, I wonder if there are any that come close to matching this bird for beauty - a spritely mix of oranges, blues, blacks, with a smear of dusty white. I watched as it climbed higher into the canopy above me and paused for a moment, before uttering its impression of a forgetful Chaffinch. It's perhaps not a song that matches its visual appeal, but it was still rather lovely to hear nonetheless...
 |
| Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Thursley Common, Surrey, 19/4/14 |
