A wonderful surprise in the dawn chorus

 

In May I always enjoy the dawn chorus and this year I decided to sleep in the wood so that I could hear it in full. Frankly, I didn't sleep that well as it sounded like the owls had decided to share the clearing where my hammock tent was with me, they were that loud. But the dawn chorus lived up to expectations and in this little video you can hear robins and blackbirds getting the show off the ground with tawny owls still in the background. Over the next hour or so, every one else chimed in - blackcaps, song thrush, wrens, pheasant, crows, chiffchaffs and the owls kept going for some time after the sun was risen. 

But towards the end I was thrilled to hear a turtle dove. You can just about hear it towards the end of the movie - alongside the photo of the timber stack. 

This bird has sadly had a catastrophic decline in population, the fastest in the UK in fact. Locally, there are groups and individuals doing what they can to slow or reverse the decline, including the turtle dove project at Marden https://mardenwildlife.org.uk/turtle-dove-research/ and in the wood, Martin Garwood working to establish habitat and feeding areas for them. Last year I saw a turtle dove about a mile away, while fishing, but have never heard or seen one in our wood.  

Wonderfully, this particular bird is one that has been tracked by the Marden group. He was named Joe, and here you can see some of its activity exactly where I heard, and then saw him

And here he is, having had his tracker backpack fitted. 

He is quite beautiful and I could not have been more thrilled to have him with us over this summer. We have spent a lot of time and some effort in managing the wood so that it has a range of habitat - opening and scalloping some of the rides and re-establishing a coppice cycle so there is a range of ages of the trees providing different types of habitat for nesting and feeding. See some of this here https://silverwoodkent.blogspot.com/2018/05/ and here https://silverwoodkent.blogspot.com/2013/05/why-have-you-chopped-all-trees-down.html for example

Joe and the other turtle doves tracked by the wonderful Marden team will soon be off back to their home in Africa if they havent gone already. Lets hope they come back next year!

Very many thanks to Ray Morris for his photos and even more for the work that he does with Marden Wildlife to support these lovely birds and more

Welcome to Silver Wood 2025!

 

For anyone who hasn't been to Silver Wood, on-line or in person, then welcome! 

I've used this website over the years mostly to share information about how to get to Old Park Wood, how to find us and sometimes to use it for photos from little gatherings we have had and some activities and photos. Feel free to rummage around amongst previous posts and if you do, I hope you find something of interest! As you can see, I haven't posted anything for a long time but if you are here it probably means you are coming to see us, so more to follow over the next couple of weeks. 

See you at tea-time!

Weather is set fair - not too cold and the wood is not too wet after yesterday's showers. No rain forecast for today so see you later!

New map here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IQNK6UKffEmmXVTRSjTuuV6gJrA03lB-&usp=sharing

The weather looks set to be fine!

It looks like its going to be a lovely weekend to be in the woods.

Really looking forward to seeing you!

Instructions on how to find us and links to driving, parking and public transport suggestions are all here http://silverwoodkent.blogspot.com/2018/08/looking-forward-to-seeing-you.html

We shall have sandwiches, tea, cake, home brew cider and some soft drinks. No need to bring a thing! But those who want to bring yet more cake, alcohol that is perhaps a little more trustworthy than our cider or even something to burn cook on a bonfire are welcome to do so.

If you haven't been before, then it really is a wood. In the middle of one to be precise. That means there are nettles and brambles, mud if its wet and dirt if its dry. It also means that its wise to print out the instructions on the post linked above. Phone connection is at best weak and intermittent and sometimes becomes non existent in the wood itself. That said, if you do get lost then do give me a ring. You should have my number, but if not then do email me.

But it will be dry and fun and full of bluebells.

See you soon!

Cold and wet today but not for long!

The weather looks to be good for next weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing friends in the woods.

A few weeks ago the wood anemone and primroses looked lovely

and now the bluebells are out in force. See you soon and watch this space !

I've been baking.....

All cleared up

Heather and I made sure there was almost no sign of the party the next day. Just the embers gently burning in the firepit.

Was so lovely to see everyone there. We will do something again before too long. Maybe bluebell time next year? See you in May!

Jasmin and Pawel made a movie.....