Bird identification workshop
Saturday 8th December saw me leading a bird course for eight participants, one who had travelled from Worcester and another from West Sussex with the remaining group being local. The venue was the The Three Pools permaculture farm in Llanvetherine near Abergavenny, and my thanks to Tom for the use of the farm.
During the morning I gave the group a quiz featuring some birds to identify followed by looking at flight and feathers and how they work, skulls and beaks (their different uses) and feet (their different uses as well). Next we looked at eggs (all with the use of power point slides and artefacts that I had brought along for the group to see and hold. Following this I had set a set of scenarios where in twos they had to work out what species they had seen by a set of clues to the identity - with a different clue given as they worked their way through the field guide. This technique allowed the group to eliminate every species of bird down to the one they had actually seen.
The feedback from the group on the content of the course was very positive, and after lunch provided by Tom which consisted of a fantastic soup and rolls, we headed off for an afternoons walk to see what birds we could find. Unfortunately, the wind had not died down as much as we would have liked and there was heavy showers, but we soldiered on.
It soon became apparent that the birds were staying low, but we started to see several Blackbirds and small groups of Starlings going past. A Jay called from a copse where a pair of Bullfinches were feeding, Woodpigeons were evident in good numbers and I explained that many of these are continental birds (known as 'Quis') that join our resident flocks in the winter.
In the workshop I had explained about scanning large open areas from the edge of a hedgerow to hide yourself before breaking the skyline and walking into the open. This paid off as we used this technique to scan the open field ahead of us, where masses of Carrion Crows were feeding, but on a low hedge next to them was a Common Buzzard showing the light horseshoe shaped breast band which is a good identification feature. We moved on and spotted a pair of Red Kites battling against the wind, and several Jackdaws made their way past.
We made our way down to follow the little stream with its line of Alder and Hazel, and soon we picked up a feeding flock of Long Tailed Tits which gave us lovely close views. I explained about birds mixing in flocks during the winter, but a Coal Tit was the other species mixed in with them today. A flock of distant Fieldfares were in the field beyond where several Pheasants were staying close to a hedgerow.
A Robin and a Goldfinch were picked out in the hedge and several distant Rooks flew past with a Collard Dove flying right past us. We walked through a damp woodland but the birds were silent and we took the opportunity to look at Hairy Curtain Crust,Witches Butter and Slime Mould fungus. We checked the large barn where both Tawny and Barn Owl roost but unfortunately they were not about today. We did find a very fresh Barn Owl pellet however, packed with tiny rodent bones.
The weather was drawing back in again so we made our way back to the farm, watching Chaffinches flitting past along the way along with a Blue Tit and a pair of Greenfinches. A flock of Fieldfares passed right over us which ended the walk nicely, giving away their distinctive calls as they passed.
Back at the farm we chatted over hot mugs of tea and home made cakes. My thanks again to Tom for the use of the venue and to Maureen, Lucy, Nick, James, Marlon, Rich and Tom for taking part.
During the morning I gave the group a quiz featuring some birds to identify followed by looking at flight and feathers and how they work, skulls and beaks (their different uses) and feet (their different uses as well). Next we looked at eggs (all with the use of power point slides and artefacts that I had brought along for the group to see and hold. Following this I had set a set of scenarios where in twos they had to work out what species they had seen by a set of clues to the identity - with a different clue given as they worked their way through the field guide. This technique allowed the group to eliminate every species of bird down to the one they had actually seen.
The feedback from the group on the content of the course was very positive, and after lunch provided by Tom which consisted of a fantastic soup and rolls, we headed off for an afternoons walk to see what birds we could find. Unfortunately, the wind had not died down as much as we would have liked and there was heavy showers, but we soldiered on.
It soon became apparent that the birds were staying low, but we started to see several Blackbirds and small groups of Starlings going past. A Jay called from a copse where a pair of Bullfinches were feeding, Woodpigeons were evident in good numbers and I explained that many of these are continental birds (known as 'Quis') that join our resident flocks in the winter.
In the workshop I had explained about scanning large open areas from the edge of a hedgerow to hide yourself before breaking the skyline and walking into the open. This paid off as we used this technique to scan the open field ahead of us, where masses of Carrion Crows were feeding, but on a low hedge next to them was a Common Buzzard showing the light horseshoe shaped breast band which is a good identification feature. We moved on and spotted a pair of Red Kites battling against the wind, and several Jackdaws made their way past.
We made our way down to follow the little stream with its line of Alder and Hazel, and soon we picked up a feeding flock of Long Tailed Tits which gave us lovely close views. I explained about birds mixing in flocks during the winter, but a Coal Tit was the other species mixed in with them today. A flock of distant Fieldfares were in the field beyond where several Pheasants were staying close to a hedgerow.
A Robin and a Goldfinch were picked out in the hedge and several distant Rooks flew past with a Collard Dove flying right past us. We walked through a damp woodland but the birds were silent and we took the opportunity to look at Hairy Curtain Crust,Witches Butter and Slime Mould fungus. We checked the large barn where both Tawny and Barn Owl roost but unfortunately they were not about today. We did find a very fresh Barn Owl pellet however, packed with tiny rodent bones.
The weather was drawing back in again so we made our way back to the farm, watching Chaffinches flitting past along the way along with a Blue Tit and a pair of Greenfinches. A flock of Fieldfares passed right over us which ended the walk nicely, giving away their distinctive calls as they passed.
Back at the farm we chatted over hot mugs of tea and home made cakes. My thanks again to Tom for the use of the venue and to Maureen, Lucy, Nick, James, Marlon, Rich and Tom for taking part.
Three Pools
Llanvetherine Court
Abergavenny
NP7 8NL
Telephone: 01873 821517 Email: info@threepools.co.uk
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