I was quite surprised this morning to the mild weather and morning sunshine, the incoming showers are due later in the day. As I wondered the log lined, woodchip path in the woodlands, I checked on ‘Con’s Copse’ where the Hazel is starting to come into leaf and the lambs tails are hanging delicately from its branches. Whereas the 100 Hazel nuts I have recently planted have yet to emerge. What’s the saying ‘One for the Mouse, one for the Crow, one to rot and one to grow.’
The splendidly large Beech trees leaves are bright lime in the morning sun at the top of the canopy, Sycamore and Horse Chestnut leaves also emerging.
A nearby dog walker spotted a Roe Deer jumping over the newly laid path, as I looked through my binoculars trying to see it, I was surprised to find a nest within the Sycamore that had a green plastic bag woven into it. At least it was a compostable one!
A female Blackbird sucked up an Earthworm, pulling it out the ground then flying off with the worm dangling below. A pair of Long-tailed Tits, possibly the cutest looking small bird, flew between the Bramble patches, while overhead 6 Goldfinches fluttered by, bouncing as they fly.
A Long-tailed Tit found a feather pulling it from the ground, holding it tight in its small beak and then bobbing between the tightly knitted Rose and Clematis, to where presumably its nest must be. The bird nesting season is in full swing now.
I checked on the gates surrounding the Hereford Cattle to find 2 of them open. Although we have propped open most of the gates around the park, please keep the ones shut containing cows.
Continuing my bird id, I was once told by a fellow colleague that the best way to learn bird id is to ‘Stand where the birds are,’ I believe this phrase has been passed down through the Rangers over time, and I’m sure the person who once said it knows who they are. Anyway this is what I did, I stood, I looked and I waited. Identifying by sight and sound, Blackbird, Blue and Great tits, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Robin, Sparrow, White Throat, Blackcap and Chaffinch.