Bedelands.  Nuthatches, Tree creepers - two nearly mobbing me in lower plantation, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Bullfinches - together in the hedge between Valebridge Common Field, and Millpond field.  6 Canada geese, Mallards , Moorhen, Wood pigeons, Blackbirds, Song thrushes, and Wrens.

A quick visit to Bedelands this morning from under the viaduct entrance into Lower Plantation produced a marsh tit, goldcrest, 25 redwing & 5 fieldfares in the tops of the trees. (The latter have not been recorded for 5 years - Ed)

John King

A three hour bird survey around Bedelands began with thick mist that was gradually penetrated by the rays of the sun to reveal a gorgeous day.  All the usual birds were busy feeding and calling but the highlights were:- goldcrest, coal tit, mistle thrush, grey wagtail, 2 treecreepers, 8 nuthatches, 10 long tailed tits, 14 redwings, 6 song thrushes, 12 pied wagtails and finally 4 buzzards that floated across heading south-west ducking and diving with each other enjoying a spring-like day.  Add to that a weasel up a tree and a lot more frog spawn in Wet Meadow and you have a perfect morning!

Roy & Pat Ticehurst

Last night we saw 12 frogs in our small gardern pond with two pairs in amplexus.

Peter & Sandra Solly

The bird recorder of the Friends Nature Team would like to hear of any sightings of raptors in or around the town this year.  We have been lucky enough to have sightings of red kites, buzzards, sparrowhawks, kestrels, peregrine falcons etc. last year but have not systematically kept a record.  We now wish to do this but need everyone's help.  Any such sightings will be treated as 'not for publication' to protect the birds.

The Committee

A short visit to Bedelands this morning produced one marsh tit, one mistle thrush, a flock of long-tailed tits  and a large quantity of frog spawn in Wet Meadow.  A sparrowhawk upset the wood pigeons in Big Wood.

Pat

Early morning, a Treecreeper showed well at the West Park Nature Reserve. Around midday good numbers of common birds, including Bullfinch, Redwing, Long-tail, Great and Blue Tit were present, the latter in good numbers.
Of interest, on Wednesday two Common Buzzards drifted over Malthouse Lane. However, the highlight was the belligerent Blue Tit attacking its own image in the crossing mirror.

John King