Even the most optimistic forecast didn’t promise dry conditions for this walk and that proved to be correct, as did the Bird News warning about mud! However, ten hardy souls assembled in the drizzle. Before we left the cars a Cormorant was spotted. We set off across a large field, one third of which had been planted with bird friendly plants – though quite a few of them were continuing to flower rather than setting seed owing to the mild winter! It was perhaps harder to identify some smaller birds in the poor light but passing through varied habitat we were soon notching up numbers including Redwing and Fieldfare and had good views of a perched Mistle Thrush. The drizzle stopped, the temperature rose and as well as the promised banks of snowdrops, we spotted primroses in bloom and lesser celandine. Both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers were seen by some and a Treecreeper. Coffee break was on the bridge in Woollard, which had replaced the one swept away by the 1968 flood. We looked in vain for a Dipper at another bridge and also failed to see a Brambling, often mentioned on our wish list for the morning. There was one slippage in the mud and the victim being rubbed down by various hand maidens was captured on more than one camera! Altogether we saw 29 species and many thanks are due to Roger for leading and sharing with us his extensive local knowledge.
Nancy Barrett