Tuesday 03 August – Kings Wood Leader: Clive Burton

15 members assembled at the Kings Wood car park and proceeded westerly uphill along the West Mendip Way. The weather was 14 to 17°C, dry, still and cloudy at first, with sun and a light breeze later. Several species seen or heard in the woods included Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Coming out of the woods onto the heathland, the first of several Stonechats were seen along with a number of Pipits in the small trees. There was some debate, but identification of the exact species was not achieved due to the birds being too far away. Proceeding past Hill Farm along to the trig point on Wavering Down, Raven, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were added to the list. The trig point served for our coffee stop with splendid views. After coffee we proceeded further west before parting with the West Mendip Way, going south and then east toward Bourton Coombe with good views of a Kestrel, also a solitary Linnet. We than went south down a steep path to Bourton Farm, encountering a productive tree with a mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Wren and Blackcap along the way. At Bourton Farm there were a great many dragonflies and some Swallows. We continued southeast, seeing two Stock Doves, and east past an abandoned quarry where there was a Green Woodpecker calling. Finally, we turned north for the last kilometre back through Kings Wood to the car park. 30 species recorded. Many thanks to Clive for leading. Alan Daniells