Hodgeston/Lake area

This afternoon doing late TTvs in two tetrads in SS09, not very much by way of bird numbers (decidedly lacking in whitethroats and blackcaps today). Still it was nice to see a sparrowhawk carrying food back to a woodland where almost certainly a pair is breeding (noted in the same area when I did the first summer visit in May).

Along the back-lanes/minor roads several pairs of yellowhammers were noted, including at least one family with at least 3 recently fledged juvs. Over the last 25 years or so, this area has generally been a stronghold for yellowhammers - helped by good habitat (mixed barley and hay fields, bordered by low hedges where they nest and tall bushy patches).