Wednesday 21st May 8:45 a.m.
Lots of fabulous bird song on a sunny walk in Jubilee Stone Wood
Dappled sunshine greets me at the top of Jubilee Stone Wood. The weather today is sunny, dry and very still. As I enter via the access gate I can hear bird song all around me. A Song Thrush is singing in the adjacent woods, whilst a Chiff Chaff, Robin and Wren are making themselves heard much closer. This has been one of the driest springs on record and yet our bird surveys have delighted us with good numbers, great songs and many sightings. Nature once again has proved able to rise above the stress of the changeable British weather.
As I stroll away from the gate I choose the right hand path, parallel to the open fields. With lots of thick brash to my left offering safe cover there is plenty of bird song. A Chaffinch, another Robin, several Wrens, more Chiff Chaffs and a Greenfinch are singing and calling, and I haven’t even reached the Jubilee Stone. Then the lovely song of the Black Cap sounds out stronger and more melodious than any of the others and makes me smile. As a self- professed lover of Blackbirds and their chitty chat melodious song, I have to say that the Black Cap comes a close second with its beautiful tone, range and melody.
Black Caps are a bird I had never heard of growing up – so I had no knowledge of them before I started bird surveying. They are a shy bird – preferring woodland habitats or well-forested gardens – so are still not so common to spot but are becoming increasingly common to hear. They are primarily a summer visitor but more are choosing to spend their winters in the UK.
A grey warbler they get their name from the head of the male, which is black, whilst the female has a dark brown cap. They are medium sized and nest in hedges or brambles. At this time of year the males sing out loud and strong to protect territory and/or to attract a mate. However the females sing too, for similar reasons, with a song that is quieter and less complex.
At the Jubilee Stone, bird song quietens. The open space here is less attractive for birds, with less cover and more danger. In fact if you walk these paths regularly you will note that they are the most common spaces within the woods to encounter raptor meal remains, feathers mostly. Of all our local birds of prey Sparrowhawks are the ones most likely to hunt in and around these woods. Sparrowhawks are a small compact hunter, particularly adapted for working in confined, dense spaces and, being on the smaller side, they are also well known for enjoying their catch where they find it rather than carrying it off to eat.
A beautiful bird, the male has a bluish grey back and wings and orangey brown stripes on his chest. The female is similar but is more predominantly brown. Like all birds of prey the females are larger than the males. Sparrowhawks enjoy gardens meals too, so we can all be fortunate enough to see one if you have an open garden with an active bird population.
I head off in the direction of the Warrener’s Cottage and then back to the top gate. A very short walk but one full of activity and finds. As I turn back, clouds start to gently roll in and I wonder whether today is the day we get some much needed rain.
Photos 1 & 3: Copyright Jon Thobroe