A visit to North Cliffe Woods

A last minute decision to go to North Cliffe Wood, based on the fact that neither Marsh Tit or Jay appeared to have been recorded at the reserve since February at Birdtrack. It was overcast and still, but quite cold, I wore gloves all the time. I arrived at 8:50 and was greeted by two Mallard by the entrance path, which insisted in walking ahead to show me the way.

I turned left at the first path and left the mallards in peace. Thanks to the mallards, I actually ended walking counter-clock wise in a path I always did the other way, which was quite interesting. There were lots of pheasants about, this one didn't look so good.

Soon, the song of Garden Warblers became apparent. Often two males singing to each other. I ended up counting 10 singing males. I believe this one was a female though, as it kept calling quietly, looking at me, as a male sung nearby. Maybe she had a nest.

The carpets of bluebells were looking at their best (top shot). A crow call coming from the ground called my attention. I thought maybe a young had fallen from the nest. It took me a few seconds to work out what had happened. Two crows appeared to be entangled on something. I kept my gloves on and try to disentangle them. What appeared to have happened is that they were locked in combat with their claws. They were gripping each other hard with them and I had to take my gloves off to slowly prise each toe apart. The crow on the left looked in good condition, and as soon as I released it, it jumped and flew out of view. 

This was the other crow. It was not moving much at first and it looked like it had taken a good battering by the other, with many feathers missing from its head and legs. It ended up moving away, flapping on its own and then sat to rest. I hope it will recover from the ordeal.

A bit shaken myself, I carried on my walk, counting Garden Warblers. There were also Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap, but the Garden Warblers were the most noticeable around the reserve. 

Another Garden Warbler, not as obliging as the previous one.

I found two dead pheasants and turned them over.  Five Red-breasted carrion beetles, Oiceoptoma thoracicum,  were in attendance.

I climbed a earth ridge that separates the reserve from a reservoir. A Reed Warbler was singing from the reedbed, a distant Yellowhammer too.

Brown Hare. Several seen in fields around the reserve.

More views of the woodland.

As I walked through the southern part of the reserve, an open area with a rabbit warren and ant nests, I hear two Green Woodpeckers calling, none was showing though, and I moved onto the heath area. A Roe Deer bounded away. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed.

Heathland.

A pond in a corner, I had never seen this part of the reserve. 

Rabbit pretending to be a hare.

I had my lunch in the bench overlooking the heath, and then took another circuit around the woodland. I had been in the reserve for four hours and had found it odd that I hadn't heard a Marsh Tit. But then I heard one! There were several individuals calling and a singing male. Then I saw that some of them were actually fledglings!

Singing Marsh Tit.

Marsh tit.

Fledgling Marsh tit. Not the best light for a photo, but the yellow gape is visible. 

This was a great end for a lovely morning at North Cliffe. I hadn't been since the 28th of December, when we went for a family stroll. Must visit for dragonfly season!