Anderwood 22nd May

The weather was sunny and fairly warm. Highlights were Goshawk, Wood Warbler, Crossbill, Garden Warbler, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher.

As we walked through the woods from the car park there were a few Chaffinch, Wren and a Coal Tit singing. Is wasn’t long before we heard our first Wood Warbler singing and a quiet wander into the trees meant that we had a great view of him. It was fairly quiet until we got to Mark Ash Woods. Anita asked what the bird of prey soaring overhead was – it turned out to be a Goshawk! It soared for another few seconds and then dropped into the woods. A few metres further on and we could hear a Redstart singing and we saw him right at the top of a tree. There were Stock Dove in the tree tops, Song Thrush singing and Robins around too. A Garden Warbler proved quite difficult to see as usual, but eventually we got very good views of him singing high in an Oak. Just before we left Mark Ash a Great-spotted Woodpecker flew past and we disturbed a Brown Silver Lines moth. The walk back was quiet apart from a Chiffchaff singing away. At the end of a clear area we saw a small flock of Crossbills and Siskins and heard one of the Crossbills singing. Just into the deciduous woodland here we heard a Firecrest singing. I pished to try and get him to come out. He didn’t show himself, but the pishing worked really well (for a change!). Chaffinches, Robins and Blue Tits immediately came along and a Treecreeper joined the throng after a few seconds. A minute or so later we were treated to 2 Spotted Flycatchers with them and lastly a Coal Tit. As we walked back to the car park we saw a Jay and heard Nuthatch and Song Thrush.
Simon Curson