[John]

Saturday was a big day for us as it was the day we were meeting a new companion for our Max. We duly picked Sunny up from Kidderminster and they seemed to get on famously from the off. Our plan was to take them for a long walk around the Wyre Forest, near Bewdley.

On the way we purchased a couple of bags of chips, which we ate in the Wyre Forest Car Park. Whilst there we were treated to quite a few Nuthatches calling, one of which flew right down onto a branch by the side of us. I’m sure it would have come to us if we had seed but we hadn’t and after a few minutes it flew off.

The mewing of an overhead Buzzard could be heard but the tree canopy hid it from view for a while but eventually it came over our heads and started thermalling higher before departing back over the tree canopy and into a darkened sky.

It was about 12:30 before we left the car park and the birds were in full song. I was hoping to pick up at least one migrant today as a Redstart had been reported earlier in the week. On the way we had to pass two areas that usually contained two other migrants, but I felt that we were perhaps at least a week too early for those. We reached the cleared area where normally Tree Pipits can be seen and heard but as I thought they hadn’t arrived yet. As we moved further along the track some Rooks started a right old raucous and as we peered through the gaps in the trees we could see two Rooks continually harassing a very pale morph Buzzard. It was a free for all for quite a while and the Buzzard twisted and turned, trying to shake them off. Eventually the Rooks went their own way leaving the Buzzard to lift into a grey looking sky.

Moving on we came to the patch of wood where the Pied Flycatchers inhabit but I could neither hear nor see any. Again we were possibly a week or two early for these birds. A Jay started his noisy call not too far away from us and soon we were watching two of them cavorting amongst the branches before departing into the distance.

We arrived at the lodge where we take a path to a bridge that spans the path we had been walking along. From the bridge you can scan the area where the Redstarts inhabit. From here there were plenty of birds. Sparrow, Blue & Great Tit, quite a few Yellowhammers plus many other birds. A Green Woodpecker could be heard in the distance but as yet no Redstart.

Just then the chap that lives in the lodge appeared from out of the wood and as he approached us asked if we had seen the Redstart. No, was my reply and he said that it had just flown over our heads and down into the far side of the field. He confirmed that the Tree Pipits and Pied Flys hadn’t arrived yet. We left to go for a search of the Redstart and on our way up the field we came across a small party of Lesser Redpoll, most of them hanging upside down whilst they fed. Unfortunately the Redstart didn’t show so it was off down another track that led to Dowles Brook, home to the Resident Dippers, Kingfishers and Grey Wagtails.

On the way we disturbed yet again another Jay but nothing much else showed until we reached the Brook. Straight away a pair of Grey Wags took off from the path in front of us and landed in a nearby tree and proceeded to scold us, as if asking us to move on. It was here that our new dog, Sunny, decided it was time for a swim and dived into the brook. He was thoroughly enjoying himself but the Grey Wags were doing plenty of tail flicking and calling so we decided to move on and leave them to it. We were also hoping for a sight of the resident Kingfisher but today we were out of luck as it didn’t show.

Making our way along the banks of Dowle’s Brook we came to an area that is favoured by the Dipper and sure enough one was standing on the rocks below us. He took off straight away and the last we saw of him was a little dark blob with a white flash disappearing up-river.

We were now passing an area favoured by Garden Warblers but even though I hoped to hear and see one I really wasn’t expecting to, as I thought we were too early again, and so it turned out. The mewing of another Buzzard caught our attention and we looked up to see two Buzzards thermalling in a clearing sky.

We were now back at the car, the two dogs well covered in mud but it had been a real experience with them as they had gotten on so well.

It was time to drive home and on the forty mile drive home we were treated to the odd Kestrel, more Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and even closer to home a couple of Swallow that flew in front of the car.

The end of an excellent day and hopefully the start of a long friendship with our new dog, Sunny.

John