Click on the button above to listen to a Reed Bunting call.

Today I learnt two lessons, firstly, according to my educated "headmistress" friends Jan and Annabelle, you can use either learnt or learned and that is perfectly acceptable either way. I also learned that you get much better photographs when using a good tripod! I damaged my tripod in the USA and it has taken me until now to eventually replace it and to be honest, I had been quite pleased with my photos recently. But when I went out with my now mended tripod to the same place as yestarday and Sunday to photograph the same birds with identical conditions, I was amazed at the significant difference in the sharpness of my images. So leson leaened or learnt!!! At the Reed Bunting site on Powderham Marsh I positioned myself in a good spot close to the reed bed. This was chosen using the experience of my previous two visits, with the light over my shoulder and knowing which reeds and brambles the birds prefered. Once I was concealed, It wasn't long before birds were flying in and showing really well. It seems that the birds are using the safety of the reeds and bramble thicket and then feeding on the nearby stubble field. On return they dive in to the safety of the reeds and then climb up the stems of the reeds. Once relaxed they will stay there for a considerable time preening and "sunbathing" in small groups of both sexes. This is proving to be a real opportunity to study this nice species.