Tuesday 03 Sept – Little Sodbury. Leader: Nick Hawkridge

A Goldcrest was our first species, hovering in the trees by St Adeline’s church, just by our departure point. A dedicated party of 13 were entertained by a Kestrel in the fields just above the now heavily screened reservoir. The pull up Horton Hill seemed long but a Blackcap, a Tit flock and accompanying finches went some way to making it enjoyable. The good number of Swallows and House Martins feeding over the houses and farm buildings were bolstered by a steady stream of migrants. A couple of Greenfinches sat above the gate, where a rowdy group of
House Sparrows clamoured for attention. Coffee was taken by the Millennium Folly with rare glimpses in the murk of the panorama below. A lolloping Hare stopped as we entered the lanes and paths to Little Sodbury Manor, moving on as we did, with another Kestrel perched above. A few Chiffchaffs called and fleetingly showed with the rather splendid view over the Severn Valley as a background. The black sheep within the Iron Age Camp came over to be petted and Stock Dove sat obligingly within a large group of Rooks. Another Green Woodpecker called and a Kestrel
perched up above Old Sodbury village, as we gained our vantage point for lunch close to the tower of St John the Baptist. The dining entertainment was provided by a party of Starlings – going for the record of how many could squash between the power line supports and many more migrating hirundines. We ambled back along the footpath with a further Green Woodpecker calling and my first Great Spotted Woodpecker who flew off, undulating its way into the trees. The weather was kind and our final total was 35 species. (Thanks to Nick for leading) Nick Hawkridge