Trip reports

Shatterford on Monday June 18th 2007

Monday, 18 June 2007

Only 8 Members were attracted to this am/pm extension trip, possibly due to the poor weather forecast, at least for the morning. As it turned out, the rain stopped at 9.45 am, with only a light drizzle at midday, the afternoon being bright and breezy.

The usual clockwise circuit was made, with lunch taken beyond the Wood-Fiddly Bridge. We had a good start, despite conditions not being ideal, with a Curlew harassing a Sparrowhawk. Stonechats and Meadow Pipits dominated the heath, and a displaying Redshank was enjoyed over the wet area near the railway line. As we neared the turning to Wood-Fiddly, Chaffinches were foraging on the pathway and Tits galore were in the adjacent trees. Treecreepers, a Nuthatch and Robins, both adult and juveniles, were enjoyed. The lunch spot attracted a mating pair or Spotted Flycatchers and a short distance onto the nearby heath produced a food carrying male Dartford Warbler. Frustratingly, the post lunch walk failed to give any views of calling Crossbill and Siskin, and only very distant ones of Hobby. Nevertheless, a very respectable 48 species were recorded.

Grey Heron (1 in flight), Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Lapwing (1),Curlew (1),Redshank (1), BH Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Cuckoo (h), Swift, Green Woodpecker, GS Woodpecker, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Redstart, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Crow, Chaffinch, Siskin (h), Greenfinch, Crossbill (h), Reed Bunting.

Reported by Steve Oakes