Cadman's Pool - 26th Jan 08

Walked from Cadman’s Pool at dawn this morning. It was just about light at 7.20am, the sun was turning the sky red & a cold breeze was blowing.



I walked through Anses Wood & the Robins & Song Thrushes were singing. As I got further down the hill I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in front of me & another was replying deeper in the trees (first of the year). As I stopped to watch it drum, a Green Woodpecker called from a few meters away, & a Treecreeper & Nuthatches were also singing (also first of the year) & a Raven flew over the trees calling.
I tore myself away & walked down the rest of the hill towards the Dockens Water & then along the stream. At the edge of Holly Hatch Inclosure were a Fallow doe & her fawn & a melanistic (black) doe.
Across the footbridge & onto the open heath. As I headed up the hill towards Old Sloden some Goldfinches flew over calling. At the top of the hill, on the edge of the wood a Brambling called from some Hollies & a load of Chaffinches were calling away.
I headed west into the wood that runs along the southern edge of Sloden Inclosure & followed the fence-line. I could hear Mistle Thrushes along with the Song Thrushes now & a couple of Chaffinches were singing. A few more Fallow does were scattered around the wood & a Buzzard took of from its perch on top of a Yew.
Coming out of the wood, over looking the heath towards Hasley Hill, another group of Fallow does were at the foot of the hill below me. A Dartford Warbler called from a Gorse bush & a Reed Bunting flew over calling.
I headed into Sloden Inclosure. In here Great Tits, Coal Tits & Blue Tits were singing along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling & another one drumming further in the Inclosure. I went over the drift-way in between the Inclosures & went into Alderhill Inclosure. Much the same birds about with Goldcrests & a flock of Crossbills.
I came out of Alderhill onto the heath & walked over to Ashley Cross & then on to Hampton Ridge & Pitchers Knowle. Not far out of the gate 4 Fallow bucks were on the heath, 2 mature bucks & 2 Sorrels (2 year olds).





Up here you noticed the breeze a bit more & it had clouded over, but a few Dartford Warblers were about in the Gorse.
I headed southeast, back down to Alderhill Inclosure & cut through its western edge, coming out at Deadbuck Hill. Scanning round the heath as always for Hen Harriers, I noticed another group of bucks led up in the heather on the side of a small mound called Little Witch, in front of Hasley Hill Inclosure.
As I walked along the fence-line of Sloden Inclosure some Meadow Pipits went up. I walked round the edge of Old Sloden. A group of Fallow does & one buck were at their usual place this time of day near Ragged Boys Hill.
I met up with a gravel track & followed it to Holly Hatch Cottage & then walked back along the Dockens Water to Anses Wood & up the hill to the car park. The Song & Mistle Thrushes were still singing as they had been throughout, but now they were joined by the piping song of a Bullfinch.