Operation Ring Ouzel – Cleeve Hill Common

Leader – Simon Ashley

Our primary target will be the elusive Ring Ouzel – these relatives of our more common blackbird, with their distinctive white crescent breasts, habitually make a pit stop en route to areas like Snowdonia and higher mountainous regions. Their appearance here is all too brief, and the middle two weeks of April are normally the most productive.

The common is a large area, and we hope to see several other bird species during our visit. Wheatear is another passage migrant, with its characteristic white rump, which we should spot as it returns from African wintering grounds.

Additional Species to Expect:

• Willow Warblers, summer visitors that nest on the common. We’ll listen for their distinctive descending song
• Linnets and Stonechats flitting between gorse bushes
• Majestic Red Kites and Buzzards soaring overhead

Possible Rarer Sightings:

• Cuckoo – on one previous occasion we had a stunning four cuckoos
• The rare passage migrant Dotterel
• The scarce Dartford Warbler with its distinctive long tail – reported for the past two years

Key Locations:

We’ll explore the productive Heather Enclosure and pause at the Drinking Pool.  We’ll meet at the Cleeve Masts Carpark. The area is largely flat with gentle slopes; please wear appropriate footwear and bring your enthusiasm!