....& Sometimes It Does!!!

Yeah, funny aint it?... After working a night shift & even though I was knackered, I stopped off at VP on my merry way home to my much-needed bed. The pool was ridiculously quiet, so instead of heading straight off home, I decided to have a look in the top field for possible Redstart or Common Whitethroat.... I didn't find either of these, but I did find a Lesser Whitethroat!!!..
Couldn't quite believe it as I entered the top field & heard this cute little warbler's fab little rattling, warble... I soon located the bird almost opposite Cound Stank woodland, where it showed briefly, but well, as it hopped into an opening in the hedge! Always great to see this bird early, as later as the hedgrerows grow they become far, far more tricky to see... & once they stop calling, they're almost impossible to pin down!!
A second surprise came as I heard a brief 'wader' call above & looked up to see a lone Whimbrel fly over, relatively low, was able to clearly see the more 'uniform' curved bill & the smaller size & to me, the flight always look's 'different' to Curlew!.. I made my way back to the hide to see if it had dropped in, but the bird had turned northwards & flown off...

After just under 3hrs sleep, I was up & raring to go again... After a quick sort out at home I was in The Argo Mk.II# & heading off to one of my fave Shropshire haunts - Bridges!!...
I kindda fell in love with this place the very first time I visited it. A gorgeous, scenic scattered woodland in a valley sandwiched between the Long Mynd & Stiperstones...
I'd not been there long before I found my first male Pied Flycatcher!! Stunning little bird, the first was past the first area of woodland & into the first clearing, as I retraced my steps I found a second, far more vocal male Pied Fly! & to top it all, there was a 3rd, equally vocal bird close to the area by the bridge!!
Sadly, I failed to locate a Redstart, but it was great to watch a male Sparrowhawk mobbing a passing Peregrine!! Also had a Red Kite pass by...
So, 3 year ticks today which puts me on 130 species on the county yearlist, which is now getting somewhere where I wanted to be!! Still plenty more to add yet!!