Leaden grey skies and the occasional shower did not deter the twenty people who joined our birdwatching walk around Roundton Nature Reserve. In fact, the weather had more of an impact on the birds we hoped to see, as they were generally staying sheltered and being consequently hard to spot!
Led by our local bird expert, Leo Smith, we explored the different habitats the Reserve has to offer — woodland, wild flower meadow, fields and open hillside — and searched for the different bird species each one holds.
The absence of swallows, martins and swifts, even over the wild flower meadow where they would normally expect to be seen, was noted and reflects an apparent national scarcity. Hopefully, they will turn out to be late arriving in the UK this year rather than simply down in number.
Chiffchaffs were heard loudly ‘chiffchaff-ing’, and occasionally glimpsed in the pockets of woodland around the reserve, and a great spotted woodpecker was heard then seen. The undoubted highlight of the walk, though, came towards the end as we descended from the shoulder of Roundton Hill: a pair of peregrines flying around the summit.
