Up With The Larks

Following a report of five Woodlarks from a stubble field at Glanwyddan in North Wales, 007, SS, Jo-Bo (a male and much, much uglier version of Su-Bo) & I decided to head over the border and take a punt.

It was potentially a landmark bird too; Woodlark is a new bird for 007 & me, but I had the added incentive of it being potentially the 1,000th species for me worldwide.

After receiving the obligatory chiding from the local farmer for daring to pull-up near one of his gates we set off along the footpath and into the stubble field where they had last been observed.

A few birders were already present and we were soon joined by a couple more, in assiduously working our way through an impressive flock of circa four hundred Skylarks.

They were extremely flighty – especially when they were the subject of the attention of a local Sparrowhawk – but also extremely confiding with some birds feeding no more than ten yards away.

A couple of fellow birders were satisfied that they had had fleeting glimpses of Woodlark and headed off, but despite searching through the group again and again none of us were satisfied that we had found one.

Ninety minutes later we opted for a time out and when we returned to the car we bumped into the chap whom had located the birds yesterday. He put us on to a spot in the opposite corner of the field where he had photographed them yesterday – separate from the main flock of larks.

Encouraged we traipsed over for a look, but again no joy. For a last roll of the dice we changed tack completely and ambled over to the opposite side of the road to another area of stubble.

The number of birds present was phenomenal with approximately four hundred Skylarks, about the same number of Linnet and around one hundred Chaffinches – all being closely watched and periodically attacked by yet another Sparrowhawk.

Again, no sign of any Woodlarks but by now we had pretty much given up the ghost…

Glanwyddan 10.01.10

Skylark c800
Linnet c400
Chaffinch c100
Redwing 50+
Sparrowhawk 3+
Curlew c25
Snipe 7

Until later.