Tuesday 25 January – Bridgeyate Leader: Geoff Hardman

Instead of one of those misty, moist winter mornings with shafts of sunlight catching the seasonal colours, 25
members set out on a wall to wall grey morning, some of us in hope of seeing the Red Kite which has been
spotted in this area on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, it eluded us today. However, before we set out our
leader told us this was a lovely walk, and it was, through a varied habitat of housing estate, lanes, open fields and
deep tracks with overhanging trees and partly following the 19th century Dramway. Finches were the first birds we
saw and we heard many more of them throughout our walk. Tits of every sort were flitting high in the trees and
necks were craned trying to follow them, also adding many Corvids to our list. At our coffee stop by the pond 18
Moorhens were spotted along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Buzzard all of which showed really well.
There was a preening Grey Wagtail under one of the bridges we crossed. In total we saw 30 Species. Thanks to
Geoff who did a fine job in leading his first walk for BOC. Graham Blacker