Trip reports

Local walk at Fishers Green

Sunday, 4 May 2008

23 group supporters were on this walk plus a further 8 independent members of a group from Chelmsford who accompanied us for part of the walk. The weather was warm, bright and sunny with only a little wind.

Highlights were the 5 Black Terns over Holyfield Lake. There were many singing nightingales - about 10 were counted - but only a few members of the group had a sighting. A cuckoo was seen from the new platform to the left of the Bittern watchpoint.

A total of 47 bird species were seen or heard by the group:

Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Black Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Nightingale, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Jay, Chaffinch and Lapwing.

Other Wildlife:

Orange Tip and Holly Blue Butterflies. A Weasel was seen and some good size Carp were seen under the bridge near the car park.

Many thanks to John Murray for leading this walk.