April 2019

A family trip for the Easter school holidays took me to Centre Parcs Sherwood Forest where the cabin we stayed in was surrounded by forest (and other cabins). I signed myself and the kids up for a nature ramble around the northern part of the site, which proved an interesting mix of pine woods and heathland habitat. Although with a group I saw plenty of woodland species as well as a singing Willow Warbler. From the hide I heard a lot of bird calls from what sounded like goldfinch but were in fact Lesser Redpoll - alas not as common a call to hear, hence my mistake. A few days later, early in the morning, I went back for another look around on my own and had similar species again, but with an additional Bullfinch and a fantastic group of Brambling, foraging vociferously in the trees next to the heath. I also saw good numbers of Lesser Redpoll (10) at the hide again.

For Easter weekend I was in Norfolk and got a wonderful walk in at Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve, potentially one of my best days there. The weather was clear and bright and I was early, 6.20am so not many people were about - heaven. I counted 73 species, included 5 site ticks - Goldcrest, Common Buzzard, Lesser Whitethroat, Red-Legged Partridge - which included a county tick Garden Warbler. Details helpfully highlighted by eBird after I submitted the checklist. I also saw a Grey Partridge at the dunes on the beach: an odd place to see one!

Thursday 11th, Center Parcs Sherwood Wildlife Hide, Nottinghamshire, UK.

Sunday 14th, Center Parcs Sherwood Wildlife Hide, Nottinghamshire, UK.

Sunday 21st, Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, UK.