The Juvenile Birder

Ancient Woodland Adventure! We arrived at a small woodland at around 5:30am targeting Wood Warblers. We went up a steep yet short trail yet to no avail. We then went down the trail back into the woods, but still nothing. Just as we were about to leave, we heard their unique song. Excitedly, we scanned the trees and managed to spot at least four Wood Warblers  singing and chasing each other around. We waited around for a few more hours, trying to get a record shot, but we ended up leaving empty handed. We then went to a private reserve to try and find more woodland birds. This reserve has two halves, the woodland and the mosses. We first walked onto the mosses, spotting an  Osprey  along with multiple House Martins , a few Swallows  and a pair of Ravens . I then found a black and white bird singing on a wire. It was a Pied Flycatcher !  While photographing the Pied Flycatcher, I noticed some movement in the tree next to me. Upon closer inspection, I realized it w...

 Successful Southern Expedition! image from eBird We set off at 1.30am and arrived at RSPB Pulborough Brooks at 6:20am   in hopes of seeing  Nightingales. We walked along the trail, which we were told was very good for Nightingales, and started listening for their song. We then came to the end of a path and saw a sign saying to look out for Nightingales. Suddenly, a burst of song broke out from the bushes. It was the sweet song of a Nightingale! I looked around, trying to locate it; when I saw a plain, brown bird with a grey chest and throat singing on the edge of a bush. It was a  Nightingale.  I listened and watched as it flitted about but was unable to get a record shot, due to the branches in front of it.  image from Thomas Inns, not same bird Feeling satisfied with my views, I then started hearing a Cuckoo which was a bogey bird of mine and a bird I have been trying to see for years. I went to a viewpoint overlooking the scrape near a playground and sc...