It was good to be back on my home patch and get some good views of our local birds.

I started in Stoke Park and was instantly treated to two stonechats in the boggy section.

Stonechat

Even more to my surprise was a common snipe that jumped up out of the bog and flew over to Duchess Pond (too fast for me to react).

On the pond I could only see a grey heron.

In Eastville Park there was no sign of a kingfisher but the black-headed gulls were doing a good job diving for fish in the lake.

The mallards are starting to look good again with their new plumage.

However, they are not as good at posing as the robins.

On the way home I went up the small stream that feeds in to the River Frome and was well rewarded with views of a dipper and a yellow wagtail.

 

A crow with a large mouthful of bread and a magpie caught my eye before the rain started and I scurried home.