The traditional early spring visit to Yarner Wood by the mid-Devon branch, to try and pick out woodpeckers, finches, tits and other woodland birds before the trees come into leaf. Sixteen met in the middle car park, including several new members, and immediately we were hearing Siskins in the tops of the Alder trees around the car park, together with Blue and Great Tits and a Song Thrush in full voice. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with some woodland maintenance work, apparently the removal of much of the Holly understory, so we had a constant backdrop of buzzing chainsaws! Undeterred, we crossed the road into the wood and made our way slowly along the pathway to the left, scanning the trees as we went. The birds seemed subdued, perhaps because of the overcast conditions (or maybe the chainsaws!), but occasionally we would come across a small mixed flock including Long-Tailed Tits and Goldcrest, while more Siskins were hanging upside down in the tree tops. A quick look over the reservoir revealed just a pair of Mallard, who quacked indignantly while moving to the other side of the water. Venturing out onto the neighbouring bit of heathland we found the distant Mistle Thrush which had been singing noisily for some time. A Green Woodpecker yaffled from the lower valley and a Raven flew overhead. A splendid male Stonechat was showing off, perched high in a gorse bush.
Back into the woods and retracing our steps up the hill, we heard drumming and finally managed to locate a Great Spotted Woodpecker who was doing his best to remain hidden. After a few more mixed flocks, and then a Buzzard leaving the wood ahead of us, we crossed out of the woodland onto the moor with a view across Trendlebere Down, Houndtor Wood and Lustleigh Cleave. Several more Stonechat were appearing and disappearing in the gorse, and we heard, then saw a few Redpoll. Up to six Buzzard were lazily circling above the distant ridge. Over lunch back at the car park we picked up Bullfinch and Greenfinch and kept being disturbed from our sandwiches by more distant raptors appearing over the ridge. After lunch some of the group made their way back into the wood down to the stream and the bird feeders, where we did add Marsh Tit to our list.
A total of 31 species seen or heard, including: Mallard, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Crow, Raven, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Wren, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Redpoll, Siskin.
Report and photos by Tom Misselbrook
