Moving Targets

Since it was the last day of May, I decided to target some of the easier species still missing from BirdTrack's local 10km square May list for 2007. Of those previously reported in May, the following seemed like realistic targets:

• Grey Partridge
• Goldcrest
• Coal Tit
• Nuthatch
• Treecreeper

In other words, the ones not commonly seen at the Mill Lakes! So I planned a rough route around the main woodland, taking in the Bestwood Quarry for a chance at the Partridge.

I began down the steep path to Hanging Heath, locating a rather silent Chiffchaff alongside the path ahead, and showing well. It was being mobbed by what appeared to be a juvenile Robin. Joining the main path near the Horse Paddock, a Common Whitethroat was singing at the top of a gorse bush in Keith's Corner.

A pair of Jay were feeding on the grass behind the Adventure Playground, as was a single Mistle Thrush - the first I've seen on the main site. I sat for a while at the Khalsa Wood - always an active area - to get two of my targets. Two Coal Tit were up in the trees and a single Nuthatch flew to the tree trunk in front of me. A male Blackcap perched in a nearby bush and began to sing, and a flock/family of Long-tailed Tit had one juvenile being fed by its parents - the first juvenile I've ever seen. At least one Chiffchaff was heard naming itself nearby.

I was hoping to have a chat with Steve (the ranger), but no-one was in at the office, so I headed to the northern side of the woods to cut through to Bestwood Quarry. It started to rain, and on the way, I was pretty sure I heard a Tawny Owl calling. On reaching the path that cuts through, I saw it had been fenced up; and not just a little fence, but the large metal fencing that's appearing all around the park borders. This meant a detour, which was a pain, considering it was raining and I didn't see any birds.

Just inside the entrance to Bestwood Quarry a Common Whitethroat was singing from the top of a hedge, and a Barn Swallow was perched on an overhead wire. Two different pairs of Mistle Thrush were on the main slope - today was becoming a good day for them. Rather than the main path I decided to follow the trail down into the quarry for once, the rain started to get heavier and I found some cover under a tree which allowed me to view the slope. Almost immediately a small pale coloured bird landed in the scrub in front of me, providing me with good views of a Lesser Whitethroat.

After the rain had passed, I walked further around and picked up two more small birds flying over the scrub for one to disappear into a bush, whilst the other perched above. After finding a comfortable position with some cover, I focussed the bins on what was my first Linnet since I got back into birding - a perfectly-lit male. The other - a female - reappeared flying back towards an area to my right, and the male followed. The pair were repeatedly flying back and forth, from what must be a nest of young, to thistle-like plants providing them with seeds. The male almost-always watched over and escorted the female, whilst she collected and delivered the food. A really enjoyable scene for me to watch.

I could hear a Skylark singing overhead as I set off back along the main path, and a Green Woodpecker flew over me in the direction of the entrance. Around the corner, one - probably the same bird - was flushed out of the small meadow by the plantation where it had been feeding, as was a Stock Dove, which provided me with good views. Heading back up the path alongside the Parkside Pasture a brown speckled butterfly caught my attention, being a new species for me - I'm fairly certain it was a species called Speckled Wood.

Getting back to the task at hand, I scanned all the yew along the Woodman's Path for Goldcrest, but without luck. I haven't seen one in a while now - probably due to the time of year? Despite this, one of the larger yews did have a family of Coal Tit, with two adults feeding one or more juveniles, which were even hovering to feed themselves.

A male Kestrel was a nice surprise in Big Wood School Field, reasonably close to the fence. I watched it for a few minutes as it literally ran around on a patch of grass feeding on something from the ground. I guess this was some sort of insect(s), as I saw no sign of any worms. Further along, another Nuthatch was seen briefly up in the trees, and a single Jay flew down into Ted Heath. My last hope of a Treecreeper or Goldcrest was in the trees just before the Pit Tip, but despite waiting a few minutes for any signs, there was nothing about. However, just as I moved towards the exit, two Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over my head calling, and landed in a nearby tree. I had brief - but good - views of both birds, as one fed the other. Possibly a juvenile, but more probably the male passing the food it'd collected to the female for her to take back to the nest. A great finish to a lovely mid-day walk, with 32 species recorded, most of which came with good views.