Trip reports
Horner Woods - 17 May 2008
Sunday, 18 May 2008
The long haul up Horner Water provides a superb walk through oaks, rowan, holly, willow and other trees, many of which are covered in ivy, requiring plenty of patience if the birds that are singing are to be seen.
It was noticed right away that there seemed to be an extraordinarily large number of wood warblers singing. Their distinctive accelerating trill song, followed by a series of soft 'pew, pew, pew' calls easily recognisable and once seen the birds are identified by their lemon-yellow breast plumage.
There were also many other warblers in song including blackcap, chiffchaff and willow warbler and, further up the valley, several garden warblers.
Two handsome male pied flycatchers were seen and many more were heard singing in the trees. Again, their scratchy, almost great tit-like song being easily recognised. Two spotted flycatchers were also noted, much later arrivals than the pieds, in fact one of the last migrants to arrive.
Another bird that was singing was the redstart, a very handsome summer visitor from tropical Africa. This time, however, it could not be located amongst the foliage.
Other birds located by their song and calls included greater spotted woodpecker, goldcrest and cuckoo and, best of all, a tree pipit was found plus a handsome stonechat.
Following the fast-flowing peaty waters of Horner Water gives the opportunity to catch up with some of the species that seek out their food along the banks, these included 3 grey wagtails and a young dipper.
Just after the fork in the stream that comes from Cloutsham, several song thrushes were singing. It was at this point that a sparrowhawk suddenly swooped down into a holly bush and caught one of the song thrushes. It waited for a few moments before it flew off with its prey leaving just a few small feathers to indicate its successful hunting trip.