I've been several times to Brean Down when there's been word out of visiting redstarts.  They always seem to be seen near the cafe near the car park or around the Brean Down Cove area but I've never managed to see them until today.  This time they were said to be by the Tropical Bird Gardens but when I arrived there were hordes of familises out walking with their dogs and I thought thigns had never looked less promising.  Hovever, I soon spied the two birds hopping about on the slope that is a massive rabbit warren just behind the Bird Gardens.  From the fence I was able to get excellent views  although they were a bit further away than I'd ideally have liked for detailed photos.

The redstart seems to be finding plenty to feed on and on one occasion much to my surprise one appeared to find a large green caterpillar.  There was a lot of small bird activity on the slope with dunnock, house sparrows, blackbirds and some very handsome stonechat.

There are more pictures of the black redstart here.

Almost as numerous today as the sparrows were robins.  I counted at least four in a fairly small area.  They clearly weren't too comfortable about this and I caught a violent encounter between two of them.  Although the shots aren't in crisp focus, I think they accurately convey the vigour with which they contest their territories.

On the way home I decided to try for the Sharpham whoopers again.  The trip down the lanes started well as I followed a handsome fox for a hundred yards and watched it into a field.  However, a little further on I encountered a farm Landrover on an icy bend - I stopped fine but the farmer ended in a ditch when he tried to brake.  A couple of shoulders applied to the bonnet and a lot of burned rubber later, he was out of the ditch and I got to Sharpham without further incident.  Unfortunately the swans were all some way off and I couldn't spot any whoopers amongst them and neither could the scope owner standing next to me.

All in all another good three hours out and about although my back which was on the mend seems to have ahd a slight setback.  Perhaps pushing the Landrover out of a ditch wasn't such a great idea!