Wells Wood

As usual with working, the times you cannot get out of the office are the times you hear the best report!

A load of lifers beckoned only a few miles away but I could not get out to see any of them!

My only free time was a couple of hours Sunday lunchtime so I elected to go to Wells Wood which is probably the nearest migrant hot spot from me.

I pulled into the car park and it was teeming with birders.

If you were not sure where to look it was easy. There was enough people to make a conga all the way to the drinking pool!

When I eventually arrived my main target bird, Red Flanked Bluetail had been showing well but disappeared 20 minutes earlier - typical!

I gave it 20 minutes but with time against me elected to walk a bit further.

Goldcrests were everywhere - I have never seen so many.

However, an eagle eyed birder next to me spotted a Pallas Warbler.

Although very flitty, it did come out well enough to get decent views and one good photo out of the 30 I took!

This was a lifer for me so really chuffed!

Back to the drinking pool and my luck had changed.

The birds had moved and was now further along the path past the drinking pool. I had a decent vantage point but the problem with woods is there is nearly always some branch or tree trunk in the way!
I got a couple of fleeting glances - enough to see the red but not the blue!

Eventually it moved to a branch that I had a clear view. Naturally, I wanted to get the view first then managed to get two quick photos before it disappeared again!

Still a lovely bird and yet another lifer!

I had now run out of time.

Hugely frustrated as I am sure I could have seen so much more.

Glancing at a hedge where a Buzzard had just flown past I noticed something dark. It was a long way away but careful scrutiny found me a skulking Ring Ouzel.

Photos is just a record shot as far to distant for anything decent!

Still a nice bonus for my two hour trip.

Working all week again so hoping that there are still good birds by the weekend!