Singing WOOD WARBLER in Chorleywood

MONDAY 27 APRIL

A broad front moved in from the south overnight bringing light SSW winds and moderate rain throughout the day (until 1630 hours at least). Temperatures during the rain struggled to rise above 8 degrees centigrade.

BOXMOOR (TL 005 025) (1030 hours)

An overgrown area of scrub and Birch situated on old brick workings behind Gilberts and Aston Martin garage. A very vocal COMMON CUCKOO was showing extremely well (and present for its second day) - the first and perhaps only bird in my local recording area this year.

There were also 4 singing male COMMON WHITETHROATS, 4 Common Chiffchaffs, several Blackcaps and a single WILLOW WARBLER.

Resident birds included 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Wrens, 3 Dunnocks and 3 nesting pairs of Common Blackbird. Also Great Tit and 4 Woodpigeon pairs.

CHORLEYWOOD HOUSE ESTATE (HERTS)

Again, despite the rain, a singing WOOD WARBLER was occasionally showing just SW of Cattermole's Community Woodland late morning (at TQ 032 973) (present for its second day)

DIRECTIONS: from the A404 in Chorleywood, turn into the main entrance in Lady Ella Drive and continue past the Summer House and tennis courts to the parking place by Dell Wood. Walk west along the road towards the Montessori School and turn right over the stile and walk north past the Chorleywood Common Youth Football Club building for 100 yards to the entrance to the wood. There is an area of Bluebells within this part of the wood and this is the area in which the Wood Warbler is favouring. A mega bird for this area and only my second within walking distance of my house in 23 years.