Trip reports

Bincombe - 20 April 2008

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

Meeting at the crossroads near Over Stowey, the party ambled down the road towards Nether Stowey and took the path that follows the stream up through Bincombe.
The lower part of the walk proceeds between fields surrounded by high hedgerows and some mature trees and, on this occasion the sheltered position was ideal for newly-arrived migrating warblers that included blackcap, chiffchaff and the ever popular harbinger of spring, the willow warbler.
It was a dry and somewhat cloudy day, but the deep shelter of the combe was ringing with the song of many of our woodland birds. It was also noted that a considerable number of swallows were now scudding across the fields enhancing a summery feeling. During the walk, a total of 6 greater spotted woodpeckers was noted, but the ever-elusive lesser spotted woodpecker was absent.
Up through the wooded part of the combe, well noted for its stands of oak, among the species seen were a sparrowhawk, 2 nuthatches, 3 very attractive treecreepers, singing mistle and song thrushes and 3 splendid yellowhammers - two cocks and a hen.
Making their way up over the top of the combe, the party eventually reached the open heath near Dowsborough. Visibility was not terribly good in a misty atmosphere and the Dartford warblers that can be seen there failed to materialise, but two good finds at the edge of the woods were a male pied flycatcher and a tree pipit.
Other species seen included pied wagtail and tit species - blue tit, great tit and long-tailed tit. The finale of the day was provided by the loud, very familiar laughing call of the green woodpecker.