RSPB Coombes Valley Blog

Site Manager Jarrod Sneyd gave a fascinating insight into the history and management of the reserve.

We had lots of fun learning about the plant life on the reserve and how parts of grasses (spikelets and ligules!) give clues to their identification. Jarrod's botanical knowledge was a great help when it came to conducting our Bee Scene survey and the walk too!

           
Dusk was a wonderful time to listen to birdsong at Coombes Valley and the group soon got to grips with identifying the beautiful calls of song thrushes.

Reaching the heart of the reserve we were rewarded with fantastic views of Woodcock displaying.
This was a first view of these amazing 'woodland waders' for many in the group.

Woodcock are very difficult to spot in their natural woodland habitat as they are very well camouflaged. At dusk in the spring and summer, however, the birds make regular circuits above woodland whilst making a series of grunts and whistles.
This behaviour is called 'roding'.

 Alder

Common vetch

Herb robert

Oak

Soft rush

 Aspen

Cuckoo Flower

Hogweed

Pignut

Sorrel

 Birch

Daisy

Holly

Pink purslane

Sweet vernal grass

 Bittercress sp.

Dandelion

Knapweed

Plantain

Thistle

 Blackthorn

Dock

Lesser celandine

Primrose

Timothy

 Bluebells

Dog violet

Marsh marigold

Red campion

Tufted hair grass

 Bulbous buttercup

Germander speedwell

Meadow foxtail

Red clover

Wood anemone

 Cleavers

Hawthorn

Meadowsweet

Rosebay willowherb

From the flowering plants we were able to identify we completed a Bee Scene survey for the reserve.
With lots of different species the reserve is probably very good for bees!
(See our virtual flower on the survey website!)

 Blackbird

Blackheaded gulls

Blue tit

Carrion crow

Goldfinch

 Great tit

Linnet

Pheasant

Robin

Rook

 Song thrush

Wood pigeon

Woodcock 'roding'