This year’s dawn chorus was enjoyed by a hardy group of five, led as usual by Milja. Special thanks to Ruth and Campbell who travelled from Gateshead for the 4am start!
Our first bird was an unusually early blackbird at 0405, perhaps stimulated by the lighting at St Giles Close. Robin and Song thrush followed soon after, and the first Wren at 0440. Tawny owls were again evident from alarm calls, and one was observed being chased off by a blackbird.
A particular treat followed at 5am – the sight of many bats flitting around in the trees. We assume these are the same Noctules as observed roosting on the bat walk last summer (see below) as the area of the wood is exactly the same.
Near Old Durham we had a good view of a singing Whitethroat. This bird has been observed here before but is reasonably unusual. More were seen and heard on the rabbit banks. Notable here also were several Garden warblers – this is the first year we have observed them in our area, and two Grey partridges.
The beautiful and haunting song of the Mistle thrush was also heard near Old Durham, again an unusual visitor to the woods.
The complete list of birds heard and / or seen is as follows (27): Blackbird, Robin, Song thrush, Wood pigeon, Herring gull, Pheasant, Great tit, Wren, Tawny owl, Blue tit, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Swallow, Jackdaw, Grey partridge, Magpie, Garden warbler, Jay, Willow warbler, Carrion crow, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Long-tailed tit, Mistle thrush, Goldcrest, Coal tit, Starling. Also, a Peacock at Old Durham!
Notable absentees this year include the Dunnock, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Chaffinch and the still-absent Great spotted woodpecker.
Our regular work party also took place today and included path and step repairs, and strimming of invasive plant species.