07:00 -10:00 Five birders was a midweek surprise! Other than totting up people my counting was pretty lazy...
More Skylarks around (maybe 20+) and a smattering of Meadow Pipits and alba Wagtails (at least one on the deck looked like a White, but the vast majority that touched down were unequivocal Pied) - many of which were moving SW. Siskins numbered 40+, though invisible birds would increase that total. Grounded were c8 Wheatears, 2 Yellow Wagtails with the sheep, 4+ Stonechats, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest and a handful of Chiffs and Blackcaps. A little gang of thrushes (several Blackbirds and Song Thrushes) in the Sheepwalk, but otherwise the bushes were very quiet. The busiest area by far was the S end of the track which leads from the top of Common Hill towards the old lookout. The hedge and open ground here was alive with bits and bobs - mostly Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits, but a Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Buntings were 'oddities' (especially the latter) and the area was clearly a bird-magnet.
A Painted Lady was my first for ages.
