Sunday, August 25, 2013
A lesser-spot for lunch!
We were heading for the downs this morning then changed our minds at the Braywick Roundabout and went to Swinley Forest instead. I'm so glad we did!
At Lower Star Post, Greger suggested taking a different track from our usual one. This took us into a mountain biking area where we watched bikers hurtle down a steep gully; the calls of crossbills were heard and we saw a flock of 15-20 birds flying over the tree-tops.
But the best birds came on the high Surrey heathland, where we sat on a bank to eat lunch. A dead pine tree some distance away was busy with birds, and while Greger had a second cup of coffee I wandered over to see what they were. A stonechat and a willow warbler were foraging close together. Autumn-bright meadow pipits and fluting woodlarks were perching in the tree between bouts of ground-feeding. And then, with a little shock, I realised that the tree also held a lesser spotted woodpecker.
The lesser spotted woodpecker flew down into a dead sapling, where it foraged just a few feet above the ground.
Eventually it flew off to the north-east. There have been several reports of these woodpeckers in Swinley Forest, a couple of them in the southern parts near Lower Star Post; but with my head always full of the "specials" when I'm out on the heathland, it had never occurred to me that I might also see a lesser spot there.
Later, as we walked back up into the forest from Wishmoor, we surprised a juvenile cuckoo sitting on the gravel track. Extensive white on the head gave the bird a distinctive appearance. This displaced Greger's Maidenhead cuckoo as my latest ever.
The Vulcan bomber (last one flying) was an unexpected and thrilling sight as it flew low eastwards over the danger area and the forest. I can't help finding these (and Spitfires, Lancasters, Chinooks) exciting even though they're to do with war. Just one of the irreconcilable things about being human I suppose.
The juvenile stonechat was peeping out from the danger area; two adult stonechats were bathing in a puddle nearby.
Despite the passing over of several large dark clouds there were only a few raindrops, and for most of the day the weather was fine and warm.
// posted by Christine @ 10:52 AM 
