Tuesday 06 June – Dolebury Warren Leader – Mark Watson

Twenty one members met outside the Crown, Churchill, on a fine, sunny morning with a bit of a breeze. As we set off a Greenfinch was heard. On our way to crossing the A38 the path descended through a wood we saw and heard Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest. A short walk uphill to the Iron Age hillfort yielded a Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Willow Warbler. We took the southern route along the hillfort bank where a Raven flew overhead along with a Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. In the scrub to our left numerous Whitethroats could be heard. We had extensive views over the Mendip to Blackdown and the Bristol Channel. After a brief stop for refreshment we passed through woodland and scrub where both Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker were seen. A male and female Stonechat obliged by sitting on top of a bush and also on the nearby fence as well as a Linnet nearby. Passing through a small conifer plantation we heard more Goldcrests and some saw a Treecreeper. Another Raven flew over as the path took us through thick scrub and emerged on to a grass track back to the hillfort dyke and the customary ‘Tuesday’ Buzzard appeared. On the descent back through Dolebury Bottom we saw House Martin and a Swift busy feeding as well as more Chaffinches, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Goldfinch on our way back to the cars. Thanks to Nick for compiling the bird list of 40 species. (Thanks to Mark for leading). Mark Watson