Photos of the month

Magical May

No-Work May

I’m working on a new book about birdsong and so set off this May to record and explore one particular aspect of a favourite species – the Common Redstart. During lockdown I discovered, after listening to its song for nearly 50 years, that the redstart mimics other species. From that chance encounter I have gone on to record as many instances as possible. To date I have recorded birds in Derbyshire (only) reproducing the sounds of 72 other species with a further 6 possibles. The headlines for this May are Avocet, Thekla Lark, Little Ringed Plover, Goldcrest, Black-headed Gull (the last two, as far as I can tell, new anywhere). Now Little Owl vies as my favourite new sound with European Nightjar, Scop’s Owl, Dartford Warbler, Orphean, Sardinian and Cetti’s Warblers. A further highlight was the first definite African bird, Common Bulbul. I barely try to see them as they sing, but as I have travelled around listening I realised it was a fantastic year for floral abundance. So, here are a few pics of the magnificent stands of dandelions, buttercups, bluebells and then the odd rarity, including lady’s slipper orchid, at the end of the month. May is truly magic.