Early Patchwatching!

5/9/06 Whin Common and Bates Wood, Leaders: Simeon
I woke up at 6:30 and got down to the patch as quickly as I could. During the first 20 minutes I only managed to pick up Great - Spotted Woodpecker. But I got more and more as the morning progressed. By the end of the morning I had seen; 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great - Spotted Woodpecker, 6+ Long - Tailed Tit, large numbers of both Robins and Wrens, 2 Jay, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Mistle Thrush, 25+ Swallow and 10+ Redwings. The Redwings were at the far end of Bates Wood at about 8:00 and they were probably the earliest ones I have ever seen! It had been a good trip and I was very pleased with the Redwings I spotted!