Saturday 24 April 2021, 09.30 to 13.00

Summary

This RSPB reserve in Staffordshire is a delightful place to go for a country walk even if there were no birds, with mixed woodland and more open areas.  In fact there was a good selection of birds.  From the car park, we headed north on the Young Woodland Loop (clockwise direction), branching left on to the Valley Woodland Trail before rejoinning the Loop and returning to the car park.

Bluebells were beginning to show and a few butterflies were in evidence, including Orange Tip and Peacock.  Before we started on the trail a woodpecker was spotted in flight at distance and a Great Spotted was subsequently heard drumming.  We saw a few Pied Flycatchers, including a pair at Nest Box 32 but sightings were brief.  Redstarts were elusive but one was eventually seen after most members had left (from the Woodcock Trail).

Members participating:    10

Bird list (27 species seen and/or heard)

Canada Goose	Robin	Long-tailed Tit
Buzzard	Redstart	Blue Tit
Kestrel	Blackbird	Great Tit
Pheasant	Song Thrush	Nuthatch
Woodpigeon	Blackcap	Jay
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Chiffchaff	Carrion Crow
Grey Wagtail	Willow Warbler	House Sparrow
Wren	Goldcrest	Chaffinch
Dunnock	Pied Flycatcher	Goldfinch