It was not an auspicious start to International Dawn Chorus day: more like “International Downpouring Day”! Nevertheless, nine people joined Steve Joul in Old Leo’s carpark for our annual birdsong walk. One, our treasurer, was suffering from the lurgi and left after collecting contributions to the running of FOAW. And then there were eight.
The triumph of hope over experience
We set off into the woods to the north of Old Leo’s clubhouse. Steve soon found some interesting fungi and we sighted a greater spotted woodpecker, but it was not a great morning for birdsong. Most of our local birds clearly had more sense than the birdspotters and sheltered at home. When they did sing, it was hard to hear them over the constant hammering of the rain.
We continued up to the Hospice Woodland, through Alwoodley Plantation and down to the beginning of Crag Lane, before returning to the rugby club carpark. As we went, the numbers slowly dwindled in the persistent downpour until there were only five of us when we threw in the towel at 8.30am.
Despite the challenging conditions, we enjoyed our walk and were able to spot or hear the following: wood pigeon; robin; crow; greater spotted woodpecker; great tit; blue tit; chaffinch; blackbird; bullfinch; blackcap; and nuthatch (we usually spot or hear over twenty species).
Respect to the people who were camping in the fields for Old Leo’s rugby sevens and beer festival – and to those cycling in the final day of the first Tour de Yorkshire!
Friends of Adel Woods 