24.03.2024 - Field Trip : Lynford Arboretum, Weeting Heath (NWT) and Mayday Farm (Forestry Commission)

Leader: Sue Gale
Reporter and bird list: David Laurie

​Part 1
​It was a 9:00 start at Lynford Arboretum on a dry day with light cloud and a brisk, cool NW wind. I was early and walked to the lakes for the first of the day's Chiffchaffs and a Woodlark (1). There were a few ducks and geese including Mallard, Tufted Duck, Teal and Greylag and Canada Geese plus
a pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Back at the car park the rest were arriving, with a good turnout of some 30 members. We first moved on past the cafe to the 'tunnel' of trees where seed had just been put down (2). As birds returned, we saw Chaffinches, Yellowhammers, a Nuthatch, Coal, Blue and Great Tits and then some
Bramblings. Three Hawfinches were spotted high in a tree nearby and they too came down to feed. Eventually there were four or five, giving excellent views.
Moving on to the stream (3) there was a Treecreeper, a Little Grebe wickering in the reed bed and on the pools (4) a Mallard or two, a pair of Gadwall and a Mute Swan with a yellow Darvic ring on the right leg with the black letters HR. A reply from Lee Barber to my email told me it was ringed
at Lynford on 30th July 2021 along with its mate, now sadly dead, and has been reported from the same site 16 times. Ours is the first sighting in 2024.
A little further on was a gatepost where seed had been placed and this attracted a Chaffinch and a pair of Marsh Tits (5). From there we walked around the paddock in search of a Firecrest, but though this proved elusive we did see Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and a large hawk flying overhead (6). 
Female Sparrowhawk or Goshawk? It was hard to be sure against the light but consensus was the former. Moving on there was a Blackcap singing, the only one encountered today, and then it was back for another look at the tunnel.
Around the cafe and the edge of the car park Firecrest was heard and seen by the lucky. We ended the Lynford leg with a walk to the lake but it was busier now and there was no sign of the earlier Woodlark. 

Part 2
Some had to leave from Lynford but the remainder drove to NWT's Weeting Heath reserve for a lunch break and a chance to see Stone-curlews. There were two at the West Hide, sometimes near hidden on the ground but sometimes walking around and giving much better views. How striking that staring yellow eye is! There was also a pair of Curlews and a couple of Lapwings, a Mistle Thrush, Stock Doves and a Kestrel plus some Fieldfares and Goldfinches.

Part 3
We lost a few more at Weeting but the rest made the short trip to Mayday Farm about 3km south of Brandon. This site is managed by the Forestry Commission and was a new venue for me with circular walks including the Goshawk Trail and the Firecrest Trail, though without any guarantee of either bird. Walking from the car park (1) the dense conifer stands were light on birds, as is often the case, but we heard and then saw a flock of Siskins plus Coal Tit and Chiffchaff (2).
We turned onto a stretch with more open land (3) and this proved much more productive. There was a Kestrel, a pair of Stonechats and a mixed flock of finches coming and going between the trees and sometimes dropping down to drink at a small pool. The birds were mainly Goldfinches but there was also Linnets, Bramblings, Siskins, Redpolls and Crossbills. For the latter we had a good view of a pair and the contrasting colours of the reddish male and greenish female. The day ended with around 10 of us enjoying a fine and sunny late afternoon as we walked back to the cars.

Our thanks to Sue for leading us on an excellent outing.
​
Bird List: L = Lynford Arboretum, W = Weeting Heath, M = Mayday Farm Hide
Canada Goose (L) Greylag Goose (L) Mute Swan (L)
Gadwall (L) Mallard (L) Teal (L)
Tufted Duck (L) Stock Dove (LW) Woodpigeon (LWM)
Moorhen (L) Little Grebe (L) Great Crested Grebe (L)
Stone-curlew (W) Lapwing (W) Curlew (W)
Cormorant (L) Grey Heron (L) Sparrowhawk (L)
Buzzard (LWM) Kestrel (WM) Jay (L)
Magpie (LW) Jackdaw (LW) Rook (W)
Carrion Crow (LWM) Coal Tit (LWM) Marsh Tit (L)
Blue Tit (LM) Great Tit (L) Woodlark (L)
Long-tailed Tit (L) Chiffchaff (LM) Blackcap (L)
Firecrest (L) Goldcrest (L) Wren (LM)
Nuthatch (L) Treecreeper (L) Song Thrush (L)
Mistle Thrush (W) Blackbird (L) Fieldfare (LW)
Robin (LM) Stonechat (LM) Dunnock (L)
Chaffinch (LM) Brambling (LM) Hawfinch (L)
Greenfinch (M) Linnet (M) Redpoll (M)
Crossbill (M) Goldfinch (LWM) Siskin (LM)
Yellowhammer (L) Reed Bunting (L)