Lord Knows I Got Brambling All On My Mind

 Another song link I'm afraid. Written by Robert Johnson and recorded by every blues player worth their salt.

We've had several Brambling flying over in the past couple of weeks and yesterday when I was chasing the Cattle Egret (don't ask!) I saw a couple in the set aside with the finch flock so I went back today to get better views.

I found them easily enough but getting a photo was more problematic, especially as I had my lens on an incorrect focus setting. I guess I caught the switch at some point because I couldn't focus any closer than 10 metres, which I found out when trying to get a Brambling photo.

Brambling in the foreground but couldn't focus on it so got Yellowhammer instead

I eventually got a few images of Brambling but not the ideal shots - front on rather than side on which would have shown plumage and form to best effect.

Brambling

The two birds I saw were with the finch flock flying from the set aside into the surrounding hedgerows and back. In the flock I got:

c.80 Linnet

c.20 Reed Bunting

7 Chaffinch

3 Yellowhammer

2 Brambling

1 Goldfinch

While we are mentioning near misses, here's another from today. A grey squirrel came along as I was sitting waiting (hoping) for dragonflies to appear and I got a few photos but didn't dare move too much in case I spooked it. The stem of grass just wouldn't shift 😂

Squirrel hiding behind a grass stem

Anything else today? Oh yes, a Kestrel, a Wigeon and a lovely sunrise...

Kestrel hovering on a gentle breeze

Wigeon off to Swan Island

I won't bother with the sunrise pics - old hat and hackneyed - but it hasn't stopped me in the past and probably won't do in the future either! PS Had a Small Tortoiseshell but no dragons today.

 

The song? Rambling On My Mind.