Tuesday 08 February – Winscombe Leader: Sue Watson

21 set off across fields, quickly finding good numbers of House Sparrows, Woodpigeons, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Starlings, Greenfinches, Redwings, and Gulls above – Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed . The first of several Bullfinches was heard and a Song Thrush found the highest view point. We passed two donkeys before climbing Sandford Hill. Four Ravens “churred” overhead. Long-tailed Tits accompanied us upwards in the woods where a Jay was heard. A deer took fright, leapt a six foot fence from standing, and bounded away. Some of the group diverted for the view over the quarry’s cliff edge towards the Bristol Channel, hoping for a Peregrine. Meantime the remainder enjoyed a coffee stop seeing a Buzzard and Mendip views plus Crook Peak, Bridgwater Bay and beyond. Together again, a flock of Linnets did a ‘fly-by’ as we dropped to the valley. We saw Green Woodpecker, and a group which included three Siskins, two Goldcrests, several Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a passing Sparrowhawk. After watching rooting black pigs in Winterhead, we returned via Sidcot and completed the circuit with a tally of 36 species. (Thanks to Sue for leading) Sue Watson