Another early start today, today we were inheading into Shropshire for the reported Black Kite. We arrived at Wood Lane NR a small members site, the hides have combination locks on. On the walk in, we heard Chiffchaff, Great Tit, and a fly over Oystercatcher, on of the lads picked up on a kite, we could see it was the Black Kite due to being in the air with a few Red Kites, we could clearly see the difference. We walked in further to the area that overlooks the landfill, where the Kites could be seen better, various Kites were still in the air, mostly Red Kites but the Black Kite was still amongst them, it was good to still be able to compare these Kite species together. The Black Kite appeared smaller than the Red in size overall, shorter wing length and tail showing a shallower, one of the lads managed to get a photo, Cleary showing the six fingers the Black has compared to the Red having five.
Other birds around the hide area were Black headed Gull, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Oystercatcher, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler (H) and Buzzard. Dinner at another hide, after we had our fill of Kites, birds we saw here were Robin, Blackbird, Sand Martins, Moorhen, Kingfisher, Raven and Blue Tit.
Whixall Moss was our next stop, plenty of Brimstone Butterflies were about, there were also a few Click Beetles and a Green Tiger Beetle, birds were Kestrels and Buzzards.
Our last stop of the day was in the Strines at a place called Cut Throat Bridge, where we saw Red Grouse, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Stonechat a few Curlew, and finally after failing on the Ring Ouzels a lovely male Whinchat which was sat up singing away. Finally Woodcock on the way over towards home
Birds at Wood Lane: Black Kite, Black headed Gull, Blackcap, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler (H),Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Raven, Red Kite, Reed Warbler, Robin, Sand Martin, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren (22)
Birds at Cut Throat Bridge: Curlew, Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse, Skylark, Wheatear, Whinchat, Woodcock (7) 158/200
Black Kite being a UK first
Wheatear
Click Beetle
Green Tiger Beetle
Whinchat
Huddsbirder 