Bratley Woods 9th March

The weather was sunny, but with a cold wind and mild. Highlights were Crossbill, Hawfinch, Treecreeper, Woodcock, Marsh Tit, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer and Red Deer.

We were lucky to have a beautifully sunny early morning. As we walked down towards Bolderwood car park we disturbed 2 Roe Deer that sauntered off into the woods. Walking through the woods at Bolderwood we saw several Fallow Deer in the fields around Bolderwood Farm, where they always seem to be. We stopped and listened to the birds singing a couple of times. We hoped for Firecrest, but there was only Goldcrest, Song Thrush and Robin. At one stop a Crossbill flew over and we saw a Green Woodpecker sunning itself high in a dead tree. It flew off and a pair of Stock Dove took its place. Chaffinch and Coal Tit were also singing a bit further into the woods where we also saw a Marsh Tit.
We disturbed a pair of Green Woodpecker and heard Mistle Thrush singing as we walked over to Bratley Woods. Just after we entered the woods we had brief views of Hawfinch, but they quickly disappeared. We spent a while in Bratley Woods listening for drumming Woodpeckers, but there were none. We did get great views of Treecreeper and Nuthatch though. Further into the woods we disturbed a group of Red Deer. I was surprised as we don’t often see them away from their rutting areas. There were half a dozen or so and they didn’t seem very bothered by us. As we walked back some of us saw a Woodcock fly past and we watched a Mistle Thrush singing from high in a tree and saw several more Fallow Deer.
Simon Curson