Tuesday 05 May – Prior’s Wood, Portbury

Rain and strong winds abated to allow eleven of us to set out into the green world of Prior’s Wood. However, Nick pointed out that there were white horses on the distant Severn and the sound of the wind and the motorway made it hard to hear any song. We had already notched up nesting Starlings in the village, Jackdaw and House Sparrow, and eventually we heard Wren song, followed by Chiffchaff, and a Herring Gull flew overhead. The sun came out and we managed to hear Marsh Tit, Robin, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Blackcap and Nuthatch, but sightings were few and far between. We found an ideal place for coffee in the sun by some felled tree trunks, surrounded by bluebells which gave off some scent when the sun reached them. Great Tit, Chaffinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called, a Song Thrush flew across our path, a Mistle Thrush sang and some lucky people spotted a Fox trotting past beyond the bridge over the stream – a Weasel was seen a bit later. Much clearance has been done by Avon Wildlife Trust, removing the rhododendron, replanting many trees and creating two ponds, but there was no activity here. A single Whitethroat was heard outside the wood, and after a brief shower on our way back we finally found House Martin in the village. Nick counted 30 species. (Thank you for leading this walk Judy). Judy Copeland