November always feels like an uncertain month for birdwatching. With the leaves thinning out you’d expect it to be easier to spot the birds that spent the summer hidden away in the foliage, although what actually turns up depends on whether the winter visitors have settled in and what is still passing through. On this month’s mid-week trip to Linacre Woods, that uncertainty worked in our favour.
On the walk over to the meeting point we bumped into one of the group, moving slowly along Woodnook Lane. We paused for a moment and were greeted by the sharp, familiar call of a Chaffinch from the hedge. A Blackbird rustled deeper in the bramble. By the time everyone gathered for the briefing, dark clouds were piling up over the reservoirs, although they never broke. It was suggested we might only see the usual things. As it turned out, the usual things were better than expected.
Almost as soon as we set off a Cormorant surfaced on the middle reservoir, diving for fish and reappearing further along. Out on the water the quiet November scene unfolded: Mandarin Ducks along the margins, a lone Tufted Duck and a single Coot paddling near the reeds.
We waited long enough to watch a Cormorant take off again, those powerful and deliberate wingbeats always feeling like a small reward for slowing down.
As we entered the wooded section the leader reminded us to watch winter flocks carefully. The familiar birds often bring something unexpected with them, and if you are lucky that can be a Goldcrest tucked among the branches.
A Coal Tit appeared first on a low branch. Then came the moment of the morning: a female Crossbill perched right at the top of a pale green larch. There was that burst of excitement as the people who saw it first tried to point everyone else in the right direction.
A Nuthatch appeared next, followed by more Chaffinches flicking between the branches.
At the weir a Grey Wagtail picked its way across the stones. They are surprisingly yellow, and the leader explained the differences between Grey and Yellow Wagtails, even though the Grey often looks more yellow than its name suggests. A useful little identification tip to take away.
A little further along, close to the bird feeder, the leader talked about why this valley works so well for wintering birds. The mix of conifers larch and pine alongside broadleaf trees gives a good balance of food and shelter. Seeds, insects, cover and micro habitats all overlap here, drawing different species into the same space.
A Buzzard circled overhead, drifting lazily above the treeline.
After the first circuit a few people headed off while the rest of us continued around the lower reservoir. The second loop brought more of the woodland regulars: another Nuthatch, a mix of tits and the constant movement in the branches that makes this place so good in cold months.
By the time we headed home the clouds were still holding back the rain. Better sightings than expected, a Crossbill in the larch.