With the threat of rain and rank, damp , burgeoning vegetation plastering us with moisture Paul Beard led us along the relatively dry lanes of the ” Brackenfield loop ” instead of taking to the fields .
The 10 participants encountered 48 species of bird .Warblers skulked in the bushes, Great Spotted Woodpeckers seemed to be everywhere ,and in the vicinity of Brackenfield Green several clouds of Linnets took to the air from behind Nether Farm .
Great Crested Grebe , Little Grebe, Cormorant , Grey Heron , Greylag Goose , Canada Goose , Mallard , Tufted Duck , Teal , Buzzard , Pheasant , Coot , Moorhen , Lapwing , Herring Gull, Lesser Black- backed Gull, Black-headed Gull , Common Tern , Wood Pigeon , Little Owl , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Swift, Swallow , House Martin , Pied Wagtail , Magpie , Carrion Crow , Rook , Coal Tit , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Nuthatch ,Wren , Dunnock , Robin, Song Thrush , Blackbird , Blackcap , Chiffchaff, Whitethroat , Starling , Greenfinch , Chaffinch , Bullfinch, Goldfinch , Linnet , Reed Bunting , House Sparrow .
Butterflies were few , just Green-veined White and Small White recorded
Jennifer Johnson