Flixton

Moorhens, 

I didn't feel like having a long trawl out today so settled on an afternoon's pottering about Wellacre Country Park.

Wellacre Wood was very quiet indeed, just a couple of woodpigeons. There were more woodpigeons on the fields, together with a few magpies and carrion crows and a flock of swallows hawking low over the ground.

Speckled wood, Jack Lane

Jack Lane was not a lot busier. Most of the pools had dried out, leaving patches of cracked mud. A few goldfinches called from the hawthorns, a couple of blue tits foraged in the willows and a chiffchaff squeaked from somewhere over by the railway. There were a lot of speckled woods and red admirals kicking about, which enlivened things a bit.

Dutton's Pond continued the quiet theme: four moorhens and a black-headed gull and no mallards whatsoever, which is unusual.

Fly Ash Hill was busier but hard work. I eventually pinned down the mixed tit flock that squeaked and chipped its way through the trees, half a dozen great tits and at least two blue tits. A couple of chiffchaffs remained elusive and I can't count the willow tit I half-heard in the brambles by the railway line. About a dozen speckled woods fluttered about the brambles and nettles and a few red admirals chased each other over the path. Out in the open magpies, carrion crows, woodpigeons and lesser black-backs flew overhead and a few more great tits and chiffchaffs bounced round the hawthorn bushes.

For once there was absolutely nothing on the river at Flixton Bridge, not even any woodpigeons in the trees.

A quiet wander but a nice walk nonetheless.