Southey Wood, 18 January 2004
by Gordon Hamlett
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PBC Trip Report Southey Wood, 18 January 2004 by Gordon Hamlett |
Taking a large group through woods is a logistical nightmare. Those at the front see everything; anyone after the first couple of rows sees nothing. So while it was great to see so many people turning up, as leader, my heart was moving ever southerly, in the general direction of my boots.
We kept sending out nice manageable groups of half a dozen or so but I still ended with 15 birders around me in the car park. Never mind. Something was bound to turn up and sure enough, it didn't take long.
There were a couple of Treecreepers knocking around and a Marsh Tit showed well, always a tricky identification problem until you hear the diagnostic 'pit-choo' call. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was proving harder to get on to, lurking round the backs of the tree trunks and giving only the briefest of views.
Providence appeared in the form of the last member to arrive, who chose to park his car right under the tree where the woody was hiding. Ease the car gently forward. Slow, slow, slow, clunk. The unmistakeable sound of number plate making contact with wood. 'Blimy,' said one of the members. 'Not only do you find the birds for us, you even try and shake them out of the bl**dy trees!'
The walk, though pleasant enough, wasn't a great success bird-wise, with most of the flocks staying in inaccessible areas. Still, we found a few Siskins, Goldcrests, Bullfinches and Coal Tits. Several Jays - never an easy bird to find in the PBC area - showed well. We almost found more mammals than birds with muntjac, roe deer and hares all logged.
One group had a possible female Crossbill, our target species. Another found a Brambling. Green Woodpeckers yaffled but remained hidden. The Little Owl in oaks by the farm just south of the wood, showed brilliantly for some but not at all for the rest. Ditto the Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers. It was that sort of day. However, when we returned to the car park, the Great Spotted Woodpecker was still flitting around. Shaken, but not stirred.
