I woke up this morning to clear skies, although a little chilly. I decided to take Tilly for a walk from Bere Marsh. I took my camera just in case. 

It was an interesting walk, the first wildlife spotted were a Mallard duck with youngsters on the pond at the farm, quite a few ducklings, but mum soon ferried them into the side before I had a chance for a real look.

We turned up to New Cross, the footpath had been closed for a while as they found structural problems on the old S&D railway bridge but they took down the retaining wall that was cracked and the footpath is now open.

It was very busy at the Heronry although unless the birds are perched high or flying around they are difficult to see now the leaves are on the trees. But there was quite a lot of action and chattering as always was interesting and very prehistoric! There was a rather large Buzzard flying around the Heronry he looked magnificent in the early morning sun.

An audio file of the Heronry in the middle, Skylarks at the end and other birds. Recorded with my phone, turn up the volume!

I decided to walk down the Hammoon road and then along the Trailway. Just before the Trailway I stopped by a gateway and spent some time watching Skylarks in the field flying up from nests I presume. There were at least five in the sky and they were singing away. I wished I had put my bigger lens on the camera I only had my 24-105mm on. I could also hear the Cuckoo faintly towards Fiddleford and there were a pair of Yellowhammers in the hedge. I have been seeing quite a few of these lovely birds this year on Hambledon, Hod and Okeford hills.

As we walked back along the Trailway there was one Roe deer in the field close by, it never moved as we passed by. She looked a little plump so she may be pregnant and we will see some youngsters soon. Another image taken with the 105mm lens and cropped.

A beautiful morning and of course the sounds of all the other birds was wonderful as always, well worth getting up early for!