Trip reports
Black Rock
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
It was decided that as we entered Velvet Bottom it would be best to split the group. Don would take half up to the woods and Rosina the other half up to Velvet Bottom.
On our way we saw chiffchaff and willow warbler singing from the trees. the gate to the Nature Reserve we were greeted with the usual nuthatches performing in the tree above our heads. From there it was a gentle climb to our first stop by the Exmoor pony fields to hopefully see redstart, but alas no sightings. We did have jackdaw, long-tailed tit, blue tit, woodpigeon, chaffinch and numerous robins.
It was decided that as we entered Velvet Bottom it would be best to split the group. Don would take half up to the woods and Rosina the other half up to Velvet Bottom.
On our way we saw chiffchaff and willow warbler singing from the trees. Then we saw a man in a green coat with the word Police. "Sorry ladies and gents" he said, "you can't go any further for the moment as we have an unexploded bomb"!!!!!!!!!!! And who says birdwatching is dull? We were told there would be a big bang. When it went off I think it definitely startled our newest member to the group, but he was fine afterwards as we all patted him on the back and offered him a small morsel here and there. What a lovely dog.
After the all clear, we had a look at the hole created by the blast , felt sorry for any rabbits down there but . . .back to more species; swallow, buzzard and raven. After meeting up with the rest of the group and swapping stories of "The Big Bang" we continued through the woods where a great spotted woodpecker was heard, possibly seen by some, marsh tit, treecreeper, blackcap and as we left the woods a tawny owl calling.
As I said at the beginning another superb walk. Thank you Rosina. Grahame Woodberry