Winter Quarry Walk

This afternoon was the organized winter walk around Bestwood Quarry for the newly-formed Friends of Bestwood Country Park group. It was a good excuse to get some birding in, whilst finding out more about the quarry area of the park.

On the Pit Tip there was a mixed finch flock of around twenty Siskin and ten Goldfinch feeding in alder down western edge of main plantation, they've been present since Tuesday am, at least. Two Green Woodpecker were feeding in Farmer Fox's Cow Fields, and a single Jay was in the sidings.

The quarry sightings were mainly flyovers consisting of several groups of 2-6 Lesser Black-backed Gull over in all directions (including four juveniles in one party of six), two Mallard were over towards Mill Lakes, as were two Mute Swan. On the ground a family party of four Bullfinch were on the hillside bend and another Jay was in the plantation at the top. An adult Red Fox was also present, showing well as it descended into the valley.

Heading back through the woodland produced another two Jay screeching away along main drive, and numerous Goldcrest were heard calling from yew trees along there too. Highlight of the walk was a Tawny Owl heard calling from conifers along 2nd valley just off main drive. Not bad for an afternoon visit.