Whinchats from yesterday

This week I have had the best view of Whinchats ever and that says something because I have been lucky in previous years too. As you may know I have found an area on Dartmoor (specifically I want to keep a secret because of disturbance issues), where a Cuckoo has a territory. I noticed that he was happy from time to time to come down on to a low dead hawthorn lying on the grass so I replicated this close to an area where I could hide and still have good close views as well. It always give me imense satisfaction when I think things through and then execute my plan and almost immediately it pays dividends. I have done this repeatedly with Kingfishers as you may know. I can share that without exception, birds will always petrch on the highest perch especially when they are feeding, it gives them a better vantage point obviously. So if you are going to copy this approach just lay your log down or dead bough with one of the ends sticking up high, this will be an attraction to your (photographic) quarry. When I placed a log like this the other day it was incredible to see a Whinchat make a bee-line for it and land just where I hoped it would, oh and then of course the Cuckoo which you can see in previous posts from all of this week. Not only Whinchat but Meadow Pipit, Wheatear and Stonechat. It's uncomfortable, and at the moment cold as well but when so much is happening, well worth the discomfort.