Friday the 13th: There are 13 RING OUZELS on the South-East slope of Ivinghoe Beacon moving regularly to Gallows Hill ( the hill towards Dunstable ). Whilst Ted and I were out there enjoying the spectacle I heard a TREE PIPIT calling ( it may have just flown in ) but then what was almost certainly the bird was on the ground on top of an anthill. It flew into bushes on the South-East slope and presumably remained there but we were then back with the Rouzels, 10+ Wheatear too including a stunning male Greenlander.
Dave Bilcock had earlier glimpsed a Redstart on the bank below the main car park on Steps Hill. Steve Rodwell subsequently located it, a male COMMON REDSTART. Whilst a few of us were enjoying this stunner a second bird popped up in the same place, another male Common Redstart. There may even have been a third !These are within 100metres of the car park, just down the bank if heading for the Beacon ( not the main path to the Beacon ).
To add to the spectacle a flock of c120 Golden Plover ( some in SP ) were flying around the valley (Mike + Ted Wallen)