A glorious day (hardly any rain) and mud glorious mud. Only the leader had her wellies on and a recce just
beforehand would have been a good idea (it was done a month earlier when all was dry and the bluebells were just starting)! The bluebells today gave us a good show, but there will be more to come. We heard plenty of birds singing as we walked up the track, perhaps more Blackcaps than anything else, but a few Chiffchaffs to help those wanting to learn song. Most of us had a good view of a Mistle Thrush high in a tree, a Song Thrush was singing, one Willow Warbler sang close to the track, we heard a Nuthatch and Alison spotted a Treecreeper. The party got well spread out as usual, but we joined up for coffee and a Sparrowhawk was spotted while we were looking at a Buzzard. Skylark was heard when we reached the field above Moat House Farm, a Swallow was seen and I was told that a Tawny Owl called on our return to the wood! Jean pointed out the plant Toothwort and she named a black bobble on a tree trunk as King Alfred’s Cake. We saw Orange Tip, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue butterflies. 32 people, 29 species.
Judy Copeland