Guestling Wood
25th October 2008, SaturdayLots of woodland birds were noisy and conspicuous this morning among the autumn foliage of this Woodland Trust reserve. Nuthatches were piping in several locations, Jays transporting acorns across each clearing and twittering bands of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls circulating over the yellow treetops.
Great Tits were especially numerous, and there were also Blue, Coal, Marsh, Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests in the various mixed flocks trailing through the coppices.
Out on the ploughed fields of Church Farm were a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and overhead a few waves of migrant Starlings flew west while Chaffinch calls could constantly be heard in the bright sky.
A Water Rail was calling loudly from the marsh at the wood’s NW corner and, thanks to this year’s work on the reedbed, one could be seen out in the open by a patch of open water. In all the years they have been squeaking and shrieking here, this is the first time I’ve had a good look at one. A Grey Wagtail was also at the waterside.
