Outdoor Meeting – Sunday 23rd April 2006

Tudeley Woods RSPB Reserve
 

Martin’s confirmation that few of the Tudeley Woods' specialities were showing themselves with any regularity, coupled with the wet weather didn’t give rise to any great expectations. There was a steady trickle of the regular woodland birds on the walk down the path from the car park towards the heath. Singles of Crossbill and Swallow flew over and the first Coal Tits were heard. The pond at the bottom of the hill produced the first flock of Redpolls, buzzing around in the alders. More flocks continued to be seen and heard throughout the course of the morning, some fairly large (over 30 birds). A short walk into one of the heathland re-creation field’s didn’t disappoint. A Tree Pipit was the first bird seen as it flew up into a tree and sat preening itself in company with a group of Redpolls. A further male Tree Pipit was heard singing from a nearby newly coppiced area. The walk up onto the main heath produced further Tree Pipits, one feeding in a pine plantation within 10 yards of the observers and another singing from a pine tree on the heath. A Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) was also seen on the top path, scuttling into its burrow in the sand and Wood Ant nests were active all along the woodland edge. A further walk into Marshleyharbour Wood to look for Willow Tit didn’t prove successful in that respect but did allow everyone to see the extent so far of the continuing heathland restoration work. A very good morning/s bird watching with a total of 33 bird species recorded. 
 

Stephen Lemon