My first Meadow Pipit photograph of the year

I went on a trip to some of my favourite sites on Dartmoor today, always so much to see, so beautiful and full of birds. I have to say that I finished up quite disappointed with today's photos. My first stop was at the river to check if there was any sign of the Dippers that were washed out of their nest in April.  I sat and watched for a while but my search was negative and I retrieved the hide material hat I had used over-looking the nest site. This will come in useful elsewhere. Then on the moor 'proper" I went to check on the hide over-looking the pool, a site that has been so productive in previous years.  When I arrived I was disappointed to discover that the hide had been stolen. Not a real surprise as it had bee there for 10 months or so and the last time I checked on it was last Autumn so what can you expect. It wont be too much of a problem to build a new one which I would probably have needed to do anyway.  So off then to the area where I had seen Cuckoos so  closely last year, but a few weeks later in June. I tucked myself under camouflage not expecting any cuckoos but did see the usual Meadow Pipits and Stonechats and it was a nice session. I heard my first Cuckoo of the year but not close to me. I noticed that the Pipits were eating small insects and not the large caterpillars that the cuckoos were enjoying so much last year.  When there are caterpillars to eat then there will be a better chance of another cuckoo encounter, a really special event by the way.

Next at Chalacombe Farm I watched Redstarts coming and going from a nest box, one that had been occupied 2 years ago but not last year.  These are really special birds and I kept well awy from the nest site when I could see that the box was obviously in use.  I didn't see the birds carrying insects to their nest so I assume that they are still on eggs. 

Don't be concerned, these pictures are quite considerably cropped and both birds were going in to the nest box without any disturbance from me. I am always very careful not to disturb birds near the nest…………. Just a reminder, I am a License holder to photograph Kingfishers a schedule 1 bird. To become licensed I had to proove that I was able to photograph birds at or near the nest without any disturbance.