I have also been thinking about whether fewer birds means less need for territorial reinforcement, or the messed up weather / availability of food means they are having to spend more time foraging and less singing.

Late season walk up the Quantocks today produced the following sightings:

Holford Combe: 1 Cuckoo calling towards village, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Nuthatch, 6 Pied Flycatcher (2 juveniles calling), 1 Siskin over, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Wood Warbler heard.

Frog Combe: 2 Cuckoo calling (either side of combe), 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Redstart alarm calling, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Willow Warbler.

Stert Combe: 2 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler and 1 Wood Warbler.

Somerton Combe: 3 Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 4 Pied Flycatcher (1 juvenile), 1 Redstart alarm calling, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Treecreeper, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Wood Warbler.

Hare Knapp: 1 Buzzard, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Cuckoo calling towards Slaughterhouse Combe, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Redpoll over, 2 Redstart singing, 1 juvenile Stonechat, 3 Swift over, 2 Whitethroat and 3 Willow Warbler.

I know it is nearly mid-June but I would still expect to see/hear more Wood Warblers at this point and I was very surprised by the lack of Tree Pipits anywhere (plenty on Dartmoor this year!) Still one of my favorite places to go at this time of year though.