Trip reports

Morning walk at Clayton Hill, Nazeing

Sunday, 2 March 2008

Another good turn out and at least two new people came on the walk, led by Mike Oakland. The weather was mostly sunny but with a blustery wind. 23 supporters joined this walk

Highlights:

Redwings were the first birds of note, with everyone getting excellent views as the birds fed under the trees and in the horse paddock near the entrance to the car park. The walk started with a look over the lake and then the climb up Clayton Hill, where we picked up a small flock of Reed Buntings and Chaffinches in the hedgerow. This first part of the route follows the newly created gravel path recently laid down by the Lee Valley Park, which runs all the way to Holyfield Hall Farm at Fishers Green. The walk took us past an old orchard where we were fortunate to get brief views of a couple of Bullfinches. The final section of the walk continued along Paynes Lane where a flock of Fieldfare were encountered in a field grazed by horses.

31 species of bird were recorded during the walk:

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Jay, Starling, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting.

Many thanks to Mike for organising this walk.