#woodlarks

[antiqueanimals]

The Child's Picture Scrap Book. Containing Upwards of Four Hundred Illustrations by John Gilbert, J. D. Watson, Wolf, Coleman, etc. 1865.

Internet Archive

[dansnaturepictures]

21/04/21-Terrific Thursley: Part 1 of 2 (The story of the day and wildlife photos) “Colin” the Cuckoo, Redstart, Woodlarks, Dartford Warbler and more: 10 different pictures in this photoset to those I tweeted tonight 

We did another of the most anticipated of our day trips this week off and one of the key ones in our June week off of day trips last year, and go to Thursley Common in Surrey today. On our ninth trip here since first coming in 2017 we left Missy and my Mum’s partner at home and came with some foldable chairs to try and see the famous “Colin” the Cuckoo and sit in the field for as long as we needed in order to see the bird. We set off on our walk when at the common and took in the beautiful landscape with the sun in and out, we were especially enthused to notice the area with the vegetation appeared to be recovering nicely from the fire here last year. Due to a very high photo yield again today I am doing two blogs tonight with 10 different pictures to the ones I tweeted on Dans_Pictures so after this post I will do one with 10 landscape pictures I took today. As part of that it was special to hear a Curlew calling one of the endangered species that was feared for the most as a result of the fire, and we liked seeing a Linnet in a tree too.

We then arrived in the field and overlooked the area the Cuckoo comes to and feeds in a field, we had seen this bird twice before seeing him flying in 2018 and seeing him and getting pictures at the top of a tree here in 2019. Soon upon arrival as we sat down I was delighted to see a Woodlark yet again this year we have seen an incredible amount of these birds so far this year a bird I had only seen twice before 2021. Then after approaching half an hour with us sat comfortably in our chairs things really started to happen, first a pair of Chaffinches came down to the area which was nice to see they were regulars all afternoon I managed the second picture in this photoset among others of the female. Then the Redstart in the first picture in this photoset that I took today came and sat on one of the sticks we saw this one throughout the afternoon too and got cracking views of this such beautiful and bright red, black and grey bird.

In terms of the Cuckoo we needed to go from nought to sixty really as not only had we not seen one yet this year but we hadn’t heard one either a very a key part of experiencing a cuckoo in a year obviously in previous years I’d always heard Cuckoo before visiting Thursley at least and sometimes even seen one before this was the earliest Thursley visit we’d done in a year I think. Then things did start to happen with the Cuckoo. First we heard the bird at a distance. Then we heard him so much closer one as if by magic he was in a tree behind us and we saw him, our first Cuckoo of the year my 143rd species of 2021 and it was the second time my first Cuckoo of the year had been Colin of Thursley Common. It was surreal at this first moment and all afternoon to hear a Cuckoo calling so closely. It’s so pure and magical and almost unbelievable that you can actually hear it. I did find it almost sounded different close up but amazing. He then spectacularly flew right over us and checked out the area he comes before flying over into a nearer tree the other side. A magnificent view.

We were then thrilled and so over the moon as he had the first of two stints sitting and feeding whilst we were there for a truly magical few hours. It was phenomenal and sensational to be just metres away from one of our finest and most beautiful birds. It made us so happy it really was just a perfect 15-20 minutes. We got to make out this bird so well in the sun too for much of it and it was just incredible making out his distinctive markings and posture of the iconic Cuckoo and see him eat mealworms using this as a valuable chance to take photos including the third and fourth in this photoset that I took today. 

After he flew off he still called in the trees quite a bit, and the Woodlarks rather took over as two wandered into the feeding area and it was exceptional to be so close to this beautiful bird to it really was extraordinary to be so close to these as well I took the fifth picture in this photoset of the pair. The male Redstart stayed around the second of this species I had seen this year after Saturday’s female at Stanpit Marsh. Chaffinches stayed put for most of the afternoon and Robin, Blackbird and Carrion Crows made appearances eating some of the mealworms too. It was also great to hear Green Woodpecker and Curlew. Later on when the Cuckoo was back hearing Cuckoo and Curlew together was a dream natural moment.

“Colin” slipped on to the stick more subtly for the second stint we witnessed. It was amazing once again to see him, and this stint as the in and out sun lowered to create real nice light was longer and we even left with him still calling and showing from the nearer tree when we went which is always rewarding. We were so in aw as he flew from the branch to patches of mealworms on the ground and back, occasionally going up into the tree and then coming back again we were truly spoiled now. It was just so spectacular to see his shiny grey feathers and piercing eyes so close to us, there was one point he came so close to us as we’d moved around to put the sunlight behind us and it was one of the best experiences I had ever had with this stunning species. It was in the range to be some of my best ever photos not only of the bird but of any picture. I took the final five pictures in this photoset of the bird during this period. The first picture I took on Friday after clearing my memory card after burning my latest batch of pictures to a disk was of a Woodpigeon in the garden pretty close so when I flicked right through my photos on my camera when I got to the end of the latest batch of Cuckoos it slid into the Woodpigeon but I was as close to the Cuckoo and therefore it looked to my eyes as strong the pictures of this quite rare migrant as the one of a common garden bird did.

What he did differently this next time was called a lot and it was such a phenomenal experience again. I even managed to record him doing this on my phone as I have done with a Cuckoo before just before we left just for my personal use which I liked a different souvenir to the 24 photos I produced of him, both so precious for me. Well this week had things been different we could have been at one of the greatest places for nature in the country having one of the most intimate and amazing experiences of nature in this country with one of my favourite birds and maybe been on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, Wales and seeing the Puffins as we did have a holiday there booked this week which we postponed to next year. But I was absolutely getting just that with this extraordinary Cuckoo and the other top class wildlife today. It was the perfect way to enjoy this one of my favourite birds in my 10 year anniversary year of seeing my first some of my greatest and closest ever views and moments with a Cuckoo this was the stuff of dreams for sure. I have to say a key part too of why I just had so much fun this afternoon and felt so in aw of what was happening was at a safe social distance the people we got to talk to as well. Those who watch Colin a lot so gave us invaluable information about this special bird, this special reserve as well as helpful tips on how to get the best photos, Cuckoos and everyone else people who had never or rarely been before about the Cuckoos, Thursley and general nature topics. It was so much sheer fun had today, and all at no cost and in a safe way. What a day, one of my best this week, this year and ever! As the lowering sun coming out more and more created a great light evening we were stunned alongside some other birds to see another star of Thursey, another of my favourites and another I am having a brilliant year for the Dartford Warbler as we walked back seeing one fly and on the tops of vegetation. The icing on the cake. And it was nice to take pictures as I tweeted of the trees getting greener and greener outside when home and the Starlings gathering on the green again. As I said, my next post shall have some landscape picture I took today. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary for Thursley Common: My first of one of my favourite birds the Cuckoo this year, three more of my favourite birds the Dartford Warbler, Buzzard and Red Kite with two of the latter some great raptor experiences seeing them fly over the nice vantage point of the field we saw a Buzzard on the way in too, Kestrel in a raptor hat trick, Redstart, Woodlark, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Stonechat, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Grey Squirrel, Peacock butterfly briefly, bees and I heard Curlew and another of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker. 

[antiqueanimals]

Illustrated Sketches of Natural History: Consisting of Descriptions and Engravings of Animals. Second Series. 1864.

Internet Archive

[artechoke]

woodlarks replied to your post:ok i was not going 2 finish watching the night...

The only good thing was louis being arrested lmao

exactly. i hope he stays there

[artechoke]

woodlarks replied to your post:fesbian replied to your post: the weird obsession...

i think mostly it’s because people on tumblr are often learning (for the 1st time mostly?) the extent of how awful capitalism is and much support of communism is the backlash caused by a desire for dramatic change idk

yeah absolutely and like im not trying 2 sound high and mighty or anything i just think it is a sensitive topic and it is sort of the responsibility of everyone who can 2 research some stuff before they jump in and try 2 start a revolution based off knowledge they have gained from tumblr and obviously i dont know who has done research and who hasnt but the amount of misinformation on here is astounding and i think separating communism from the pain and suffering is has caused is just as bad as doing the same for capitalism

[katebushery]

ellaeyer replied to your post “what are the worst 1d lyrics?????? bc rn Track 12. Clouds “we try to...”

tears fall down like the showers that are british

woodlarks replied to your post “what are the worst 1d lyrics?????? bc rn Track 12. Clouds “we try to...”

Fall down like the showers that are British smh

2 votes for this GO D that is so bad. does louis sing this

[artechoke]

woodlarks replied to your post: Read More →

SO jealous your extracts seem so good

omg they r pretty good yeh but like most of that was rambling abt broader stuff i left my extracts at school ://// but yeah the sisters, a painful case, the dead???????? im not complaining

[artechoke]

woodlarks replied to your post: parrnasse: options for yr twelve jump...

Wait how many characters can we have??

i have no idea but i feel like the elusive chanteuse is too long :((