I spent the entire morning in the area between Partridge Green and Dial Post for the SOS Turtle Dove survey. Alas, I found no Turtle Doves but the area is huge and has several areas of good habitat, so I have little doubt that they will be present in the tetrad. Hopefully I will record them in the later survey visit. It was, however, an interesting morning, with 53 species recorded; that's not too bad for a basically random bit of countryside in mid-June. Among these were two Lesser Whitethroats, two Reed Warblers, a Garden Warbler, two Siskins, a Reed Bunting, a Red Kite, 11 Buzzards (including a juvenile heard), two Kestrels, a calling Sparrowhawk, 10 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (including juveniles), five Green Woodpeckers, 15 Yellowhammers, three Bullfinches, 18 Linnets, 20 Swallows, a House Martin, 10 Swifts, six Skylarks, 22 Blackcaps, 17 Chiffchaffs, 11 Whitethroats, Goldcrest feeding young, six Treecreepers, nine Nuthatches, eight Coal Tits, two Grey Herons, six Mistle Thrushes, 11 Song Thrushes, five Pied Wagtails (two juveniles) and two Mute Swans. Among the few butterflies seen was a Purple Hairstreak.
Driving past the Sheepcote Valley, a Swallow flew over the car.
