Hi friends!

Due to the fact that I have a huge number of photos accumulated in the processing queue, but I’d like to talk about the birds I’ve seen recently now, I decided to start writing about my trips to the forest. Yes, the photos will not be processed, because as I said, I still process photos from the summer of 2019.
I will just show screenshots of the RAW photos themselves. Full photos you can see in future on my blog.

Well, let's begin.

On the 11th, in our city, the self-isolation regime was softened, and the first thing I ran into the forest. I have not been there for a long time.
The path to the forest lies through the old cemetery, and starting from it, begins the territory of wild birds. There are a lot of them. 

I put on my camouflage suit and pulled out a camera.
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*Self-isolation regime softened, but required to wear masks. Is such a mask suitable? :)*

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To my surprise, there were very few birds in the cemetery. Usually there are many kinds. But I managed to meet only flocks of **Great Tits**.

Having reached almost the end of the cemetery, I met a lonely and for some reason silent  **Chaffinch**.

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Yes, because of this stupid coronavirus, I had to miss the most "bird time" in nature. When they are looking for a partner, singing, choosing a hollow, and this is the most favorable time for their observation. And now, most birds are already in pairs, and they don’t fly to the voice from the speaker, it’s impossible to lure. The only thing, if they sing, is to designate and protect their territories.

Having reached the forest, I heard numerous voices of  **Willow Warblers**
Surprisingly, there are a lot of them this year.

Going further to the ravines, I saw a **Great Spotted Woodpecker** looking for something in a piece of wood.

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It is worth saying that that day the weather was very hot, it reached +28 C.
From such heat, birds sometimes open their beak, because it is very hot.
Can you imagine what condition I have in a camouflage suit and heavy boots? :)

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I also met **Black Kites**. They flew very low, probably somewhere nearby was their nest.


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Near the forest is some kind of enterprise located, something related to the power plant. There are a lot of water pipes nearby. Under one such pipe was this bright beautiful bird. This is **Common Redstart**. He sat and sang a song. Judging by the fact that he has gray plumage on top, this is a young male. Over time, it will become darker on top.

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![Скриншот 24-05-2020 155050.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmPXcQWnSnXYTqKWEEcPZZcnDBAhgqrj2RtgkdMYbGzR48/%D0%A1%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%88%D0%BE%D1%82%2024-05-2020%20155050.png)
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And on the other side, near literally 30 meters on a pile of concrete blocks, **Grey Wagtail** sat. In Russia, this bird called "mountain wagtail". And this is incredibly strange! Since she is mountainous, how did it get here, in a mixed forest, and even close to an electrostation? It is worth saying this is not our first meeting in this place. Every year here I see one bird of this species. And maybe even this is one and the same!

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Returning to the forest, I walked along the path, and a **Fieldfare** thrush jumped out of the grass. He did not fly away, he ran some distance, stopped and looked back at me. What a deja vu! The exact same case was with me in 2017! In this very place, on this path!

I followed this buddy, but suddenly I heard a familiar whistle.  It was **hazel grouse**
Unfortunately, I was unable to photograph him. I ran after him from hill to hill, called through the speaker, he moved very quietly. It was worth moving while lying in the grass, as he flew away.

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While I was unsuccessfully looking for a hazel grouse, next to me, thanks to my camouflage suit, **Olive-Backed Pipit**  ran. He was very vigorously looking for something to eat, this is their main way of hunting. They, by the way, are relatives of wagtails.

That's all. I was terribly tired, sweating, getting a heat stroke and was dehydrated. Went home. And along the way, in the bushes I heard a **Swinhoe's snipe,** that I could not find.  But then I was lucky enough to photograph him elsewhere. But more about that next time.

I hope you enjoyed my story.