Tuesday 2 August 2016

Cross Inn Forest

A handsome redstart at the regenerating area, ticking away, was followed by a spotted flycatcher doing its stuff. Other birds were wood pigeon, a single long-tailed tit, a blue tit with 'hearings' of goldfinch, willow warbler, great spotted woodpecker (chip call), blackbird and wren.

In the shady areas, rose bay willowherb is yet to flower. I was reminded of finding a white mutant of RBWH in the Rhigos Forest, which I grew in my then garden in Bow Street, where in the early 80's I once had tree sparrows for a few days in the winter. The white version of RBWH was lower in vigour and probably this is the reason that I have never spotted a white one in miles of motorway.