A small group of 6 keen members joined Trustees Andrew and David for this morning’s early bird walk (unfortunately a few people had to drop out at the last minute). Meeting at 8am at Childwall Lane in warm spring sunshine, we mooched across the lower fields and edges of the plantations on to the top field and into the main woods by the Quickswood path. All 3 of our usual visiting warblers, blackcap, chiffchaff and whitethroat, made themselves known. As ever when the trees in full leaf, it is more a case of bird listening rather than bird watching and here the Merlin app is useful. (But it’s not entirely reliable – when it suggests oystercatcher or bee eater for example – as it did today – it may safely be discounted!) But we did enjoy a duet between a blackcap and a blackbird singing together which allowed a chance to compare their songs.
Apart from a slightly unusual sighting of the raven, it was a case of noting a count of 22 of our usual species – a fairly typical total for the woods and fields at this time of year. And as always it was a delightful way to start the day in the company of some very pleasant people.