March 2016 Guided walk report

No mad March hares were seen on this month’s walk, though we did get muddy and muddled as our magical mystery tour headed off to either Milltown Quarry or Highoredish. Or, as it turned out, to neither. The weather changed more frequently than the anticipated route, being an early spring mix of warmish sunny intervals, a very light shower and a cold breeze.
A good turnout of 23 participants marched (pun) over the fields to Milltown Farm, up and over Ashover Hay, returning to the West Bank car park via Clattercotes Farm. A few flowers added to the views: Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Green Alkanet, and there was a good display of Daffodils and Snowdrops at Revel Farm.
Thirty-eight species were recorded: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Buzzard, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Song Thrush, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.