Twelve club members sighed a breath of relief at the end of the recent heatwave to assemble on a morning
threatening the first rain for some days. Birthday cake and blackberries were enjoyed on the rather busy quarry road before we set off south in milky sunshine from the discouragingly signposted ‘Discharge Point 2″. Nuthatch, Wood Pigeon, corvids and a gull were identified around fields full of parched grass and stridulating insects. We soon entered woodland with Wrens, a Buzzard and a Robin posing on a log. The path climbed quite steeply to flatten out amid stands of tall yews with Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Greater-spotted Woodpecker all heard. Further along, among tall pines, there were Goldcrest and more Chiffchaffs. Wrens argued with one another on a wall, and Goldcrest was heard in the canopy. Treecreepers entertained us during a well-earned rest. On the return, a large Dryad’s Saddle was admired with occasional Chiffchaff, a Blue Tit with a final Treecreeper to see us back to our cars. Thank you to Graham for leading and to Alan for keeping score. Andrew Archer