A Stonechat never sounded so good…

I photographed this male at Ainsdale Local Nature Reserve on March 5th before things went all kablooey, but he was still singing away by the Green Sefton office today, and never sounded so good…
The thin scratchy song can often be a bit quiet, but in the inverse tranquility of the lockdown, you could clearly hear him through the open window.
At least three males this spring in the vicinity of the office, and good numbers elsewhere on the coast after the relatively mild winters of recent years.
He clung onto the bare branches a week or two back allowing me to commit his balancing act to ropey video, which you can watch on You Tube here.
Apologies as usual.

Work had me up and down the coast from Ainsdale to Southport today, with three Wheatears, a thin movement of Meadow Pipits and the electrifying song of Skylarks muscling in on my duties.
I tried not to look, but you can’t not.
Chiffchaffs were singing at several sites.
Vernal Mining Bees and other solitary bee sp starting to emerge too.
They’ll all be here again next spring though, so please stay home and safe, and enjoy what’s on the doorstep.
I managed 24 sp at Dempsey Towers yesterday, but I know others can smash that – let me know what you’re finding close to home.