Back on familiar turf

Back to the Orchard Centre today.
I thought I may have seen everything I was likely to here, so lately I have been frequenting other haunts.
62 species on a small, inland patch like this seemed quite respectable but........ you should never say never!
Sat in the hide today, I was very pleasantly surprised at the numbers of House Martins - at least 30 and probably nearer 35. But I was absolutely chuffed to see 3 Sand Martins mixed in with the throng.

And then there in right in front of the hide was a gorgeous male Mandarin Duck. "Bang tidy!" as Keith Lemon would say. And that's 64 for the patch list. (Photo by the Lone Birder's daughter).

Mandarin

Other birds seen today included 2 Ravens, 5 Swallows, 3 Stock Doves, 2 Coots, and a handfull of Mallards.

Female Mallard

If the cap fits.......

Now here's the thing: I normally like to keep my birding list inside the broad, but somewhat restricting confines of Gloucestershire. I know, I know...... get a life mate!
Anyhow, having strayed across the border today into the equally gorgeous and farmer friendly county that is Herefordshire I put another tick on The Lone Birder's year list.
My first Blackcap!
That unmistakable, scolding "Tacc! Tacc!" and there the little blighter was, fliting around the tree tops, doing his darndest to avoid having his photo taken.
Too bad little fella, gotcha!

Male Blackcap

Q: When is a willow warbler not a willow warbler?

A. When it's a chiffchaff. When these two birds don't sing they are very difficult to tell apart (for me at least). I usually rely on leg colour and the dark colour of this birds legs tell me it's a chiffchaff.
But I'm open to debate.

Chiffchaff - it's all in the legs!