Tuesday 18 February – Dolebury Warren Leader: Jacky Tonkin

Twenty one members met at the Crown Inn car park on a nice bright fresh day. We started off towards the lower woods spotting a couple of Magpies. A Green Woodpecker was glimpsed flying off to a far tree. Then started the steep rocky climb through the woods. Just past the map/sign for the warren a couple of Tree-creepers were calling to each other but remained hidden. Robins, Blue Tits and Great Tits were calling but rarely seen. When the ground opened out two Ravens with a Buzzard above them were seen.At the top of the ridge were lovely views to the valley on the left, anda lovely sunlit view of a Buzzard perched in a tree. As we descended the hill there was another tempting glimpse of a Tree-creeper. Whilst watching and listening to a Dunnock singing there was an interesting squawk and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over our heads and started pecking at the top of a nearby tree. Lastly, a Coal Tit was heard with its situ-situ call, adding to the Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Wren and Redwing spotted by others along the way, and took the species count to 25. Many thanks to Jacky for leading the walk. Stephen Clark