Trip reports

Bincombe - Tuesday 28 April 2009

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

A variety of birds was noted and the fact that the trees are not yet heavily leaved was a great advantage in spotting those birds that were calling.
The list of species logged included nuthatch, mistle thrush, two beautiful male redstarts, five pied flycatchers, two wood warblers, two tree pipits, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, many swallows passing overhead and green and great spotted woodpeckers that were heard but not seen.
As the woodland opened up onto the heathland of Dowsborough and Woodland Hill, a cuckoo was heard calling in the distance and was eventually located perched on top of a distant tree. Later, another was seen and heard but nobody could be sure that it was not the same bird. The large area of gorse that normally supports a small population of Dartford warblers was diligently searched, but none were seen.
A circular route was taken over the top of the hill before the party made its way back down Bincombe once more. A week or two may make a difference to the amount of birds seen, especially if some warm weather was to come our way.