Trip reports

Stolford & Hinkley - Saturday 11 April 2009

Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Many swallows were speeding over the meadows, but the first really good find was two immaculate male wheatears. A full tide meant that the only birds visible on the seaward side where shelduck, mallard and two pintail that were on the water, plus a variety of gulls and the odd cormorant that flew past.
Approaching the power station with its thickets of blackthorn and scrub, many more species were first found by their song, including chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap and a short snatch from a nightingale.
On the rocky foreshore there were many egrets and a variety of gulls and a good find was a group of purple sandpipers and four turnstones. As the tide dropped, more species took advantage of the emerging mud and these included oystercatcher, curlew and a single whimbrel.
Continuing on around the far side of Hinkley, the party ticked off many of the more commonly seen woodland species including robin, wren, dunnock, magpie, green woodpecker, carrion crow and noisy members of the Hinkley rook colony. Several buzzards were seen floating overhead and at one point a fox trotted off around the corner of the path ahead.
Best find of the day was the two superb male redstarts that worked along the thorn hedgerow, appearing at regular intervals and offering wonderful views of their colourful plumage and a chance to watch once again the typical behaviour of this attractive bird as it flicked from bush to bush and paused with russet tail quivering.
A great day of birding with a tally in excess of forty species.