Twelve of us met in the car park of the Jolly Farmer pub. While we waited to start a Kestrel flew over with a vole in its talons. Setting off into the first area of woodland by some houses we began to see and hear lots of Blue and Great Tits, and the beautiful song of Blackcaps rang out around us. We had good views of a Nuthatch, possibly a youngster, perched above us on a tree branch. A Red Kite drifted across the sky. Further on into the woods we briefly saw a family group of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A Green Woodpecker could also be heard calling.
Out on the heathland we had good views of two Linnets on the path in front of us. A Cormorant flew over in the distance as did a Grey Heron. We had remarked about the lack of Stonechats in this habitat where they would be expected, however, then we saw one sitting on top of a small pine. In the distance a Raven flew past. A Willow Warbler was seen skulking in the bushes with food in its beak and a Chiffchaff sang from a tree.
Nearing the railway bridge we could hear a Garden Warbler singing but were unable to locate it for a view, and a family of Nuthatches was very active flying to and from a garden birdfeeder. A Buzzard circled high up above us. We took a path through another area of heathland where we heard a Dartford Warbler. Unfortunately for us, the birds were keeping out of view in the heather. Long-tailed Tits were observed in a group of birch trees and a Coal Tit sang. We took the path back and returned towards the pond. On the way movement alerted us to something which turned out to be a Treecreeper which unusually perched perfectly still halfway up a tree for an extended period of time so we all could see it. The pond itself was very quiet, with no bird life in evidence save for a Moorhen calling. Throughout the morning we frequently heard Goldcrests but none were seen.
By the time we returned to the car park we had managed a list of thirty two species in all (including those heard) which made for a very interesting morning with many fledgling birds in evidence.