Blackwater Arboretum

A sunny and fairly calm afternoon. Highlights were Hawfinches and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.

We walked from the car park along the tall trees trail. The Giant Sequoia and other huge trees along here are pretty impressive. The wildlife was pretty quiet this afternoon though. Several Robins and some Blackbirds were all that we saw for much of the time. We did stop and see a few Blue Tit and a Goldcrest in a flock of Long-tailed Tit.
The Arboretum itself was not much more productive. We walked around the perimeter path, but only saw a Nuthatch and a pair of Song Thrush. A Wren did call in the woods and sang a little. We walked to the spot where it is best to see the Hawfinches and waited. It wasn’t long before we saw our first Hawfinch and then a second, both sitting in the top of a high conifer. Over the next 2 hours we saw many more Hawfinches. A couple of tit flocks came by with Blue, Great and Coal Tit, a flock of Crossbill flew over calling and a Nuthatch was seen. Then we saw a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker feeding in the birch trees behind us and most people got good views. Siskins appeared in the tops of the trees feeding and a little later we saw a second, or maybe the same, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker feeding in a large Oak in front of us. It was very difficult to pick out, but most of us saw it. We saw a Great-spotted Woodpecker in trees a little further away and left as the last of the Hawfinch came in to roost! Hawfinches and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker – great!!
Simon Curson.