August 2010 Summary

Star bird of the month was awarded hands-down to Wood Warbler, found in a purple patch of activity by Dave Callaghan mid morning on 26th on the slope just below the Rose Garden halfway to the deer enclosures, but was unfortunately seen only by three observers and last the following morning in the dead ash just north of the Conservation Pond. The flock was briefly joined by two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, just the second record of the year, and a Treecreeper, presumably the same bird found by the same observer amongst a flock at the back of Top Field on 24th. In a remarkable week Dave also heard a Firecrest amongst the flock in Top Field on the 23rd. Bob Watts found the year's first Pied Flycatcher in the Grove's veteran oak but it proved elusive and was seen with certainty by just one other observer in the company of two Spotted Flycatchers. this latter species put on a good show with peak counts of 8+ on two dates near the month end.