On top of the World this evening after climbing Lark Hill and arriving high above Wantage to look for the rather exciting Wryneck that has been reported recently. No need to look for it as a birder returning from where it was under observation told me to "look for the four or five birders along the track" Sure enough it was not long before I could see a group intently looking for the little gem. Pleasantly surprised to meet up again with Steve Akers (you know of Chipping Norton Oriental Turtle Dove fame) I haven't seen Steve for some years and he is now sporting a beard so I guess he hasn't had a shave for several years. The tall birder Stephen B also arrived with a fair bit of equipment and I guess about four others, so far so good and it was to get better as our bird necked it across the track, but then the local dog walkers started arriving (Oh!Goody Goody) One particularly unhelpful pooch disturbed our feathered friend and although this meant that we were able to get good views of it there is of course the danger that the wryneck could have just taken off and kept going. It gave really good views and at one point ran towards us making photography relatively easy Having got a photo and a decent tick I then set of for home feeling rather pleased with the world in general and Lark Hill in particular.
