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Becky, her son Russell and myself took a walk around Beaulieu Road this morning with our dog Scruff. It was much colder than of late with overcast skies and a fairly breezy easterly blowing across the heath. We arrived at Shatterford car park around 9.30am and were pretty disgusted to find some idiots had left a smouldering fire behind with leftover and uncooked food within the car park. Such a shame that idiots like this exist!
Back to the birds, the distinctive song of a Garden Warbler was heard as well as a Willow Warbler were heard and so, leaving Russ and Becky by the car, I went over near the railway line and picked out both birds upon their respective song posts. The Willow Warbler was a month tick but the Garden Warbler was a year tick and so that was a bloody good start.
The footpath leading to Bishops Dyke held at least two to three pairs of Stonechats and several Meadow Pipits were seen singing also. A pair of Dartford Warblers were seen briefly flying across the heath and a male perched upon a small conifer before flying down into the heather. Both Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting showed very well once we got into Bishops Dyke, in which I showed everyone close views of the latter through my scope. A Lesser Redpoll flew overhead and landed in nearby Birch trees. This was also a year tick and things looked good. Within the Dyke, a Marsh Tit showed well and a pair of Redstarts were seen within the woodland. A Wood Warbler was heard singing deep within woodland but could not be located. I was hoping for a bird in Denny Wood but there was no sight or sound of any.
The walk from Bishops Dyke to Denny Wood turned up a few more year ticks. Overhead, a flock of Crossbills flew past and headed towards the Wood. A Tree Pipit was seen high up on a tree on the heath while another bird was heard singing in the distance. More Stonechats were seen along the footpath and a Redshank was seen feeding on a area of marsh.
Denny Wood was fairly quiet but plenty of calling Redstarts were heard. A Cuckoo was also heard but unfortunately not seen. The walk back to the car was fairly quiet but the Curlew showed well chasing off crows across the heath.
The Tree Pipit between Bishops Dyke and Denny Wood this morning.
