Spent the day on the RSPB's information stand at by main car park today, sightings on and around the feeders, in the field opposite and flying over include:
Lovely day for a return visit - is it that long since I've been up there? Thought I'd check out Chew Piece plantation to see if I could find anything that Hammy & Woosey were looking for... All I managed was one Spotted Flycatcher (an adult - no young seen). Also, Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrests, Jay and my first Nuthatch at this site. Everywhere pretty quiet bird-wise - too hot and everything is lurking in the undergrowth.
Yes, that is Chew Piece. Found a young Tawny there last summer. I've regularly seen Spot Flys there and, only once, a Tree Pipit. Never Redstarts though. A couple of years ago a pair of Pied Flys bred in the wood below the dam. It's well worth a winter visit as well - the plantation is the best palce I know for Brambling.
We did indeed prowl through Chew Piece Plantation (if that`s the one behind the yacht `enclosure`).That`s where the Owl was. We came up to Dovestones specifically to look for Tree Pipits but as you can see we had no joy The area does look ideal for Flycatchers & Redstart, but yes, I think Bill has attracted all the latter to his patch It`s the first time I`ve ever been up here (Paul`s been before). Wonderful scenery - great place
I took a quick stroll round there last night and noted: 1 Common Sandpiper on Dovestones Resr 1 Pair CS on Yeoman Hey Resr (water levels very low due to work on dam) 1 CS on Greenfield Resr
Ian, did you and Paul get round to Chew Piece Plantation? I didn't. There should be Spotted Flycatchers there by now and, if you're lucky, Tree Pipit and Redstart - or have they all gone to see Bill at Piethorne?