As springtime rolls around in Sherwood Forest, it’s the time to enjoy the freshness of the leaves and the emergence of plants and wildlife among the ancient oak trees. It’s been a very wet winter, as we know, with rain on virtually every day in January and well into February, and only rare glimpses of the sun.
In spite of the deluge, birdsong has been filling the air of the woodland as the days go by and the daylight hours lengthen.
The glorious Song Thrush, repeating its phrases in threes or fours, and fluty-sounding Blackbird have been in full voice, accompanied by the unmistakable drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, while Robins are busy and loudly proclaiming their territory.
The urgency of the Wren’s explosive song can pack in 100 notes in barely five seconds, as it flits in and out of the undergrowth, and if you can hear something a little like the word ‘teacher’ in the air, well that’s just one of 40 songs and sounds uttered by the Great Tit.
The shrill ‘tseep tseep’ you can pick out is the Blue Tit, keeping in close contact with its brightly-coloured brethren, while the Chiffchaff proudly proclaims its own name once back in Blighty in early spring.
The ‘Northern Nightingale’ is the nickname given to the Blackcap, whose playful rising and falling tune is another to be heard growing to a crescendo among the brambles of the woodland floor.
The rapid staccato of the Chaffinch finishes with a harsh, edgy flourish. The wonderfully vibrant Goldfinch, with its distinctive red face, has a twinkly melody which scoots along, often singing together with others in flocks or ‘charms’, while the Greenfinch shows its range with a clear, held note which some claim sounds as if the birds are calling the word ‘cheese’.
The UK’s smallest bird, the Goldcrest, with its dazzling yellow mohawk, is here too, often found among Sherwood’s Yew trees, where a sound not unlike a high-pitched squeaky bike wheel is the giveaway.
The laughter of the Green woodpecker has earned it the alternative moniker of the ‘yaffle’, and it can have a certain eerie quality in some of the more remote parts of the wood.
But not all birds are showy singers…until they need to be.
The little Dunnock often reserves its performance for breeding season from March to May. But when that time of year comes around, it doesn’t hold back and lets forth a quick, high-pitched tune to broadcast its search for a mate.
Out on the heath, the calling Woodlark almost sounds like it is posing a question to us, probably to be mindful not to disturb its nest, which is made on the ground on the heathland of Budby South Forest.
Ground-nesting birds, like the Woodlark and the exotic churring Nightjar, need special protection during the breeding season. Birds and their eggs are often well-camouflaged as protection from predators, so not easy to see. It does not mean they are not there though.
There are simple actions we can take when walking in the forest on the heath to help. Between 1 Mar and 31 Aug it is a legal requirement to keep dogs on leads within enclosures on the heathland at Budby. While the heath is an area of open access land, it is best to stick to bridleways and clearly-established paths too.
It helps to ensure a successful breeding season and many more springs when we can enjoy the natural orchestra of woodland and heath.
Want to hear bird song so you can identify some of them when you next take a spring walk in the woodland? The RSPB has recordings of dozens of species on its website www.rspb.org.uk
Get in touch.
We always like hearing from supporters or visitors to Sherwood Forest. You can email your thoughts to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
visitsherwood.co.uk www.rspb.org.uk
Images:
Robin at Robin's Range, courtesy of Tammy Herd.
Goldfinch in Sherwood Forest, courtesy of Peter Calvert.
Blackcap, courtesy of Peter Calvert.
