Happy New Walking Year !

My page in the Wildside Booklet . . . .

A regular count over the same walk builds up into a snapshot of birdlife in our time. In future those who look back may notice differences, or similarities.

This year (2014) the New Year Bird Count over this walk gave us 18 species : -

1.1.14

Clay House - through North Dean Woods and across Norland Moor to the Ladstone, and back.

Caol Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Jackdaw

Blackbird

Carrion Crow

Magpie

Feral Pigeon

Black-headed Gull

Woodpigeon

Jay

Robin

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Treecreeper

Common Gull

Chaffinch 

Grey Wagtail

Dunnock

There were five walkers plus two dogs. (Room for plenty more this time.)

Bring a packed lunch. It can be muddy in the woods and windy on the moor.

Contact me if you're on your way and can't find Clay House at West Vale.

07715005379

Report on the Walk 1.1.15:

Eleven people turned up to my surprise, a good number. Some old friends and new.

The first part, through North Dean Woods, it was dry but overcast, and we were taking layers off - it was so warm.

We noticed the extensive thinning that has been going on near to Clay House. This might bring some summer migrants back, after the understorey has re-developed in the sunshine, like warblers and the two species of flycatchers which disappeared from there some time ago. 

The most prominent fungus was the Birch Polypore as usual, being big and noticeable to the non-mycologists on the walk. I also noticed a dog-chewed stick shot through with the turquoise of the Green Elf Cap fungus Chlorociboria aeruginascens; the one that stains the timber and makes it valuable to marquetry workers. (I searched for "fungus Tunbridge ware" and found illustrations of the work.)

At the disused church at Copley we noticed on the outer wall by the Lych-gate a luxuriant specimen of Hart's Tongue Fern, and beside it several plants of a corrugated form of it. One frond has a forked midrib.

We had all together 21 species of bird, three up on last year, despite missing out the Norland Moor section, due to a strong squall of wind and rain blowing up as we reached the top of Norland Clough.

Two grey squirrels were the only wild mammals seen.

Birds Seen:

(Some on way there.)

Blue Tit

Coal Tit

Woodpigeon

Collared Dove

Blackbird

House Sparrow

Magpie

Robin

Dunnock

Great Tit

Goldfinch c.8

Chaffinch

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Fieldfare (2)

Large Gull - unidentified

Kestrel

Feral Pigeon

Mistle Thrush (2)

Redwing (1)

Black-headed Gull