Tuesday 25 September – Easton-in-Gordano Leader: Judy Copeland

Glorious sunshine after the deluge and really, the mud was not too bad. House Sparrow, Robin and Dunnock
started the list. Robins were everywhere (Nick counted 21!), welcoming the sun in full voice and one or two
Wrens sang as well. Green Woodpeckers were also calling – we had three or four. The wood going up towards
Failand was very quiet but numbers of common bird species gradually rose, Coal Tits especially singing well. At
the bird feeder house at the bottom of Sandy Lane were Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great and Blue Tits flitting across from the trees and a Pheasant was seen there. Peering over the wall beside the track near Failand House Farm
we found a single Mistle Thrush on the grass and a Green Woodpecker, which immediately flew – would have
been a nice view! Nuthatch was eventually heard during the climb up through the wood to the farm. One or two
Chiffchaffs were ‘weeting’, and over the fields we saw one Skylark, Swallows and several House Martins on
migration. Six Linnet flew over as we came down towards the village. Speckled Wood butterflies were common
beside hedges, and in the sheltered south-facing field below Failand church we spotted a Clouded Yellow, several
Small Coppers, a Common Blue and a Red Admiral, while a Buzzard, first seen on a branch behind some
overhead wires, gave a good show above us and two Ravens were tumbling. Apologies for the walk being rather
longer and steeper than some had anticipated but I hope most people enjoyed it nonetheless! Nick counted 33
species. (Thanks to Judy for leading the walk.) Judy Copeland