Hilborough, Norfolk

Woodlark at Hilborough 30/06/16

Not a bad day today with warm sunshine and a moderate SW wind.  Cloud increased by the afternoon.
This afternoon I visited Pine forest of  varying ages of trees from mature to young 5 year old compartments.
A couple of Siskins were heard in the taller Pines, an indication of probable local breeding.  Also a couple of Goldcrests sang.
Whilst overviewing a lovely clearing covered in pink Foxgloves a Hobby was calling behind me high in a Scots Pine. A visit to suitable habitat produced at least 3 Woodlarks, of these, one was a male bird which was perched on a dead branch within one of the several windrows.  This bird then flew up and performed song-flight for about 10 minutes until descending rapidly to alight close to where I first saw him.  Looking at the wing in this photograph of the male Woodlark, it is possible to see the distinctive black and white marking which is always is a useful identification feature of this species.