A sharp shower sent some of the 16 of us scurrying back to raid car boots for rainwear. It continued dull and muggy but we had returned before more persistent drizzle set in .
At first it appeared that few birds were abroad , only 18 species having been recorded by the time we paused at St. Mark’s Church, Handley where John Parlby told the tale of the erection of the Osprey platform nearby . Things looked up as we passed through Woolley Moor via Beresford Lane and Temperance Hill . It was here we heard that a Black Tern was over the reservoir , speeding our progress in the hope of seeing it !! Along with this and the bushes adjacent to the car park being alive with warblers that our total for the day was boosted to a satisfactory 42 species .
Other excitement was caused by the sighting of a Purple Hairstreak butterfly at the top of an Ash , and the discovery of several football-sized Puff-balls , one of which found a good home in a plastic bag to be fried in butter later !!
Thanks to Paul Beard for leading once again .
Great Crested Grebe , Little Grebe ,Cormorant, Grey Heron , Mallard , Tufted Duck , Canada Goose , Mute Swan , Buzzard, Nuthatch , Moorhen , Coot , Lesser Black -backed Gull , Black-headed Gull , Black Tern , Woodpigeon , Stock Dove , Collared Dove ,Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow , House Martin , Rook, Carrion Crow , Jackdaw , Magpie , Jay , Blue Tit , Long – tailed Tit , Wren , Blackbird , Robin , Blackcap , Whitethroat , Chiffchaff , Dunnock , Pied Wagtail ,Starling , Goldfinch , Greenfinch , Chaffinch , Reed Bunting ,House Sparrow .
Jennifer Johnson