In overcast skies and mist, but with the sun trying to break through, some of the 19 of us applied our first sun cream of the year. The car park was surrounded by calling Chiffchaff, Greenfinch and Goldfinch and Wren. On the bird feeders at the Centre we were rewarded with many and both sexes of Reed Bunting, Mallard cleaning…
Month: March 2014
Tuesday 25 March – Hambrook.
The promise of a mildish spring morning enticed 31 walkers to enjoy the area around Hambrook. We waited for the Dipper to show at Bradley Brook and just as folks had given up it duly arrived and gave everyone time to admire it. When most had moved on, two Kingfishers were spotted sitting on a branch before flying off. Heading…
Sunday 23 March – Forest of Dean.
Just over 35 people met at Nagshead RSPB reserve and just as Ed was introducing the morning a Hawfinch flew over ‘ticking’. During the morning’s walk around the woodland Nuthatches dominated the birdsong along with Blue Tits, a few Great Tits, and Coal Tits. A Chiffchaff was singing by the meadow while Redwings sat at the top of the oak…
Tuesday 18 March – Bridgeyate.
Getting across the A420 outside the Griffin Inn is always a challenge, particularly when trying to identify the Wagtail on the house tops opposite! However, the Collared Dove and Magpie offered no such contest, as we entered the housing estate en route for the Dramway. Some Lesser Black-backed Gulls fought the wind and Woodpigeon were blown out of the trees…
Tuesday 11 March – Elm Farm, Burnet.
Out at the stewardship scheme acreages of Elm Farm, we walked in the bracing NE wind under a full grey/white sky with plenty of birdlife. From the car park we had splendid views and heard the wheezing call of Greenfinch and there was an addition of five more of these brightly feathered birds, some setting off on circular sprint chases…
Sunday 09 March – Leigh Woods
This was a popular walk on a lovely sunny morning. A good selection of woodland birds were seen but the birding highlight of the day was a sighting of a colourful male Crossbill high in a pine tree.
Tuesday 04 March – Portbury Wharf
A warm, sunny day greeted 32 eager birders for a walk through the Portbury reserve. A Song Thrush serenaded us, Chaffinch, Wren and Great Tit showed, but an early disappointment was no Little Owl at the barns. At the first hide there was a dramatic fight between two (presumably male) Coot with one desperately trying to drown the other! A…
Saturday 01 March – Middleton Lakes
The early frost gave way to warm sunshine as eleven members met at this RSPB reserve in the Lower Tame Valley on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire border which has been made from 400 acres of old gravel workings. The heronry had 18 pairs guarding nests and seven pairs sitting on nests and was very visible from the boardwalk. Further along the Woodland…