Early Spring Heathland Birds on Lavington Common (National Trust)

Leader: Alan Perry (HNHS member)
Leading the walk across Lavington Plantation, Alan was soon able to locate the scratchy song of the Whitethroat and 12 members heard Chiffchaffs, a male Yellowhammer, Linnets and a distant Cuckoo.  Two key heathland species were encountered:  Woodlarks were heard then seen in flight and Dartford Warblers made brief appearances.
Stonechat males and females perched on top of Gorse bushes. Alan was delighted to see his first Swallow of the year, followed later by two more.
Two young children in the group spotted two Common Lizards and a Wood Ant highway leading to two nests still under construction.
Alan remarked: “We have seen everything I had hoped we would see but doubted.”