Wellied up

Complete with wellies I spent the morning rambling over the open fields between Burton Hastings and the A5. Many of the huge fields were too waterlogged to work and were still stubble while in others the winter wheat had already germinated. With few hedges and only fragments of woodlands passerines were in short supply. I counted 23 Skylarks but there were probably considerably more in such a large area. Meadow pipits were around  in small numbers but no finches seen or heard. A few Reed Buntings were in the rough ground near the canal. A common Snipe got up from the waterlogged grassy fringes and a single Yellowhammer was seen but that was about it for the smaller species.
On the other hand Raptors and Corvids were very evident, seemingly 'enjoying' the breezy conditions: 4 Common Buzzard, 2 Raven, 2 Kestrel and a female Merlin all showed well. Nice to see these birds but where were the Lapwings and Finches?