The Walk took place on the morning of 25 April, a sunny day with a cool NE wind. Similar weather had been a feature of the previous week, and there had been an unusually high number of night frosts over the month as a whole. The following 26 species were recorded – five fewer than on last year’s Spring Walk. The most notable absences among the spring arrivals were – as on the same date last year – Swallow and House Martin.
Red-legged Partridge (C)
Buzzard (A,B,C: possibly now more frequently sighted than ever)
Red Kite (A,C)
Woodpigeon (B,C)
Skylark (C)
Wren (A,B,C)
Dunnock (A,B,C)
Robin (B,C)
Blackbird (A)
Mistle Thrush (C: one bird flew over by Dean Farm and landed on the grassy field towards the A4074)
Whitethroat (A: singing in hedge and then on overhead cable opposite Catholic church as last year)
Blackcap (A,B: several singing, as last year)
Chiffchaff (B,C)
Blue Tit (A,B,C)
Great Tit (B)
Nuthatch (A)
Magpie (A,C)
Jay (B)
Jackdaw (A)
Rook (A,C)
Carrion Crow (B,C)
Raven (B: one mobbed by three Jackdaws flying NE over Dean Wood near end of walk)
Starling (A)
House Sparrow (A)
Chaffinch (B,C)
Goldfinch (A)