Saturday, 7 May 2016: Birdsong Walk

Steve Joul led a group of enthusiastic birdwatchers this morning.  Here is a report, written by the man himself – plus at the end a few additional miscellaneous sightings.  In all we spotted 27 species of bird – not bad for a morning’s birdwatching in a woodland on the edge of the city.

Adel Wood – Birdsong Walk 07.05.16

This Friends of Adel Woods walk was led by myself, Steve Joul, Leeds City Council Countryside Ranger. 15 people met in the car park at 7am when much of the talk from regulars was of how much better the weather was today compared to 12 months ago when we undertook our walk during heavy rain!

Although it was cool at first the sun gradually forced its way through the haze as a hot and sunny day developed.

After introductions, we watched a Great Spotted Woodpecker and listed to Chiffchaff before walking down the track towards the Cricket Club. Along the way were Wren, Robin, Song Thrush and Blackcap.

At the cricket ground a male Mistle Thrush fed on the pitch before flying up and singing from a Poplar tree, freshly clothed in shiny green leaves.

We then crossed Adel Moor where a Willow Warbler was singing and made our way to the Buckstone a sandstone feature that gives its name to the nearby housing estate. This had been recently tidied by the Friends of Adel Woods.

Next, we made our way to the Seven Arches Aqueduct which brought from Eccup Reservoir Leeds’ first alternative water supply to the River Aire. Here, we spotted a Nuthatch calling and searching upside down on a branch for food.

Further along the Meanwood Valley Trail we watched another Mistle Thrush carrying a large quantity of mud in her beak. She returned several times to build her nest in the fork of a Birch tree.

Arriving at the Slabbering Baby Spring, which marks the former location of Verity’s Tea Rooms, those who had important business to attend to returned to the car park. However, it was developing into such a lovely morning tht the remainder of the group decided to continue past Mill Fall Pond (the newt pond) and along Adel Beck to the Stairfoot Steps.

Along the way we enjoyed the colourful streamside flora which included Golden Saxifrage, Hard Fern and a superb bank of Marsh Marigold. Those at the front of the party also saw a Red Fox.

Up the steps we climbed, then past Adel Crag to the Hospice Wood where we were delighted by a trio of neat and colourful Bullfinches.

27 Bird species seen or heard

Blackbird: too many to count

Blackcap: 4 males singing: good views of 1 perched.  2 males chasing 1 female close by.

Blue tit:  too many to count

Bullfinch:  2 males chasing with female close by

Carrion crow: 2 including 1 mobbing a red kite

Chiff Chaff:  6 calling males including 1 bathing in a puddle

Dunnock: 1 pair seen, not calling

Goldfinch [noted by Sylvia]

Great spotted woodpecker: 1 female called observed in a tall tree

Great tit: 7 males singing

Grey heron: 1 flew over

Jay [noted by Roger]

Jackdaw:  1 flew over

Long tailed tit: 3 pairs seen foraging; 1 pair flew to nest

Magpie [noted by Roger]

Mallard:  3 flew over

Mistle thrush: 1 male singing in tree; 1 female carrying mud to nest

Nuthatch:  3 calling

Red kite:  1 pair, mobbed by carrion crow

Robin: too many to count

Skylark:  1 flying over neighbouring farmland

 

Song thrush:

Starling:

Stock dove: 1 pair occupying owl box

Swallow:  1 male singing on the wing

Wood pigeon: too many to count

Wren: too many to count.

Miscellaneous Sightings

In addition to the above, the group also saw:  3 blackbird eggs (hatched or destroyed by a predator); 8 campers and a tent; speckled wood butterfly; dog violet; ivy leaved speedwell; greater stitchwort; seven spotted ladybird; peacock butterfly; small tortoiseshell butterfly; orange tip butterfly (thanks for Sylvia for this information).