Since meeting Simon Smith at a Codicote village cricket match late last summer, I have been visiting Astonbury Wood about once a fortnight (depending on the weather and other commitments) to conduct a bird survey. The main aim of the survey was simply to record all birds seen or heard in order to make comparisons with Richard Gazzard’s earlier study (Astonbury Wood Newsletter No. 9, March 1999). Other aims were to make specific notes of any birds using glades within the wood and any species using Long Meadow.
Following a couple of preliminary visits to get my bearings and locate my recording points, I began my survey as the clocks went back on the last Sunday of October 2001. On each visit I kept a log of all species recorded. At each of nine recording points (7 in the woods and 2 in Long Meadow) I also counted all species seen or heard in a 5-minute recording period. I have now made 12-visits and so far have recorded 52 species. Of these, six species (Cormorant and five species of gull) have only been recorded flying over the wood and a further seven species (Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Tit, Starling and Yellow Hammer) have only been recorded on one visit. Ten species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further two species (Wren and Dunnock) have been recorded on every visit bar one. The most numerous species so far have been Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw and Chaffinch. Some species have probably been under recorded e.g. large numbers of Wood Pigeons are disturbed when walking through the woods, but relatively few seen during the count periods.
There have been some interesting sightings: at least three Woodcock wintered to the south-east of the large pond; both Tawny Owl and Little Owl have been recorded and owl pellets are regularly found under the tall cypress(?) trees alongside the main track; Kingfishers have been watched fishing along Stevenage brook on a couple of occasions. However, the most surprising sighting has been a Harris Hawk, a distinctive, buzzard-sized North and central American bird of prey that appears all dark except for a large white patch at the base of the tail and white tips to the tail feathers. Closer views show that the thighs, under and upperwing coverts are a rich chestnut. Although no jesses were seen on this bird, it is assumed to have escaped from a falconry.
The weather can have a great effect on the number of birds recorded. Most are recorded on fine, calm days. On windy days, most birds will be found on the sheltered side of the woods. Traffic noise, from the Stevenage - Hertford (A602) road, can be bad at recording points on the south and west side of the woods making it difficult to hear the birds.
The woodland glades with low shrubbery, mostly brambles are better for birds than the clearings lacking ground cover where no birds have been recorded. Long Meadow has been especially disappointing with only three records of birds in the field, a Green Woodpecker possibly feeding at an ant nest, two Carrion Crows and two Magpies also seen on the ground. Birds forage along the hedgerows on either side of the meadow, with Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings all seen feeding on haws but few seem to use the field.
Following a couple of preliminary visits to get my bearings and locate my recording points, I began my survey as the clocks went back on the last Sunday of October 2001. On each visit I kept a log of all species recorded. At each of nine recording points (7 in the woods and 2 in Long Meadow) I also counted all species seen or heard in a 5-minute recording period. I have now made 12-visits and so far have recorded 52 species. Of these, six species (Cormorant and five species of gull) have only been recorded flying over the wood and a further seven species (Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Tit, Starling and Yellow Hammer) have only been recorded on one visit. Ten species (Wood Pigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch) have been recorded on every visit while a further two species (Wren and Dunnock) have been recorded on every visit bar one. The most numerous species so far have been Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw and Chaffinch. Some species have probably been under recorded e.g. large numbers of Wood Pigeons are disturbed when walking through the woods, but relatively few seen during the count periods.
There have been some interesting sightings: at least three Woodcock wintered to the south-east of the large pond; both Tawny Owl and Little Owl have been recorded and owl pellets are regularly found under the tall cypress(?) trees alongside the main track; Kingfishers have been watched fishing along Stevenage brook on a couple of occasions. However, the most surprising sighting has been a Harris Hawk, a distinctive, buzzard-sized North and central American bird of prey that appears all dark except for a large white patch at the base of the tail and white tips to the tail feathers. Closer views show that the thighs, under and upperwing coverts are a rich chestnut. Although no jesses were seen on this bird, it is assumed to have escaped from a falconry.
The weather can have a great effect on the number of birds recorded. Most are recorded on fine, calm days. On windy days, most birds will be found on the sheltered side of the woods. Traffic noise, from the Stevenage - Hertford (A602) road, can be bad at recording points on the south and west side of the woods making it difficult to hear the birds.
The woodland glades with low shrubbery, mostly brambles are better for birds than the clearings lacking ground cover where no birds have been recorded. Long Meadow has been especially disappointing with only three records of birds in the field, a Green Woodpecker possibly feeding at an ant nest, two Carrion Crows and two Magpies also seen on the ground. Birds forage along the hedgerows on either side of the meadow, with Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings all seen feeding on haws but few seem to use the field.
In his earlier study, Richard Gazzard recorded seven species which I have not yet seen at the woods, although with the exception of Lapwing these were all summer migrants. With the clocks going forward over the Easter weekend and the days getting longer, signs of spring are much in evidence; Primroses are in flower, most of the trees are in leaf while the resident species’ breeding season is already under way. Robins, Blackbirds and Chaffinches have been singing for a few weeks and Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been heard drumming while Blue Tits and Jackdaws have been prospecting likely looking holes. Chiff-Chaffs, usually the earliest of the summer visitors have already been heard and over the next few weeks will be joined by other warblers. It will be a good time to go down to the woods.
