Peter Jones Wildlife blog

Very brief footage of a Whinchat on Baddesley Common today. A good 100 yards away, which may prove the best way of capturing very distant birds with my new camera. Also, Willow Warbler heard, plus Stonechat, Skylark , Linnet and Kestrel in the vicinity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKxkKS1n_Og&feature=share

Took a walk thru the horse paddocks first thing this morning, a few very overcast mornings and a bit of rain overnight should spell migrants this time of year, but the best I could manage were Swallows heading North. The first Whitethroats are singing on territories, and a Raven was calling in the distance. A couple of the horse paddocks have been ploughed, and the bare earth was attracting Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush and Pied Wagtail.

A male Blackcap has been singing almost constantly in the back garden for a few days now.

Shaky footage, but nice to hear the reeling of Savi's Warbler at Coto Donana. Checked the sonograms which were just below 5khz. Grasshopper Warbler is to my ear, extremely similar but reels at 6-8khz. School Science lessons paying dividends now! https://youtu.be/WFdYC882HHo

White Stork with Glossy Ibis at Donana http://youtu.be/keQovoCzMLc

Our Hotel grounds near Albufiera, had a good number of Bee Orchid this year. Either by luck, or a very conscientious gardener, the lawn mower kept missing them too which was cool.

Returned from a family holiday in the Algarve. Made special from a wildlife watching perspective by a visit to Donana, which was alive with wetland birds. Best of my photos below. Highlights of the sightings during the holiday were: *Savi's Warbler singing in Donana, and a Great Reed Warbler skulking *Booted Eagle over Donana amongst the many Black Kites *Purple Swamphen also at Donana *Quail, Montagu's Harrier, Great-Spotted Cuckoo, Collared Pratincole, Thekla Lark and Iberian Hare in Vale do Guadiana *Golden Oriole, Blue Rock Thrush, Woodlark, Redstart, in Serra Do Caldeirao *Polecat seen in headlights during a night safari in Serra do Caldeirao

Took a few close up shots of flies, and a Blue Tit around the garden today