Report on outing to Snuff Mills, 20th April 2026
On a sunny Spring morning, our group of thirteen keen bird watchers met in the Snuff Mills car park. There was plenty of beautiful birdsong and we saw blackbird, robin, wood pigeon, magpie and wren. We started off down the path towards the Snuff Mills lodge and a long tailed tit was seen flitting around at the top of a tree. Stopping at the first weir there was no sign of a heron which had been spotted earlier but three mallards flew overhead. A good view of a jay and crow. A song thrush could be heard together with that of a great tit. A goldcrest was spotted by the more eagle eyed members of our group. A stock dove’s call was identified and then the actual bird was seen.
We walked over the bridge but unfortunately there were no dippers in the riffles of faster moving water that had been apparent on the last year’s visit. Two great tits were seen in the ivy. As we walked on, we heard the raucous sounds of two jays who were having an argument with a crow and they were clearly seen in the trees above us. At the second weir we saw a blue tit and jackdaw and the Merlin app helped to identify a nuthatch but it couldn’t be spotted although a chiffchaff was seen. We did spot a moorhen, well camouflaged on the dark water. We had a close encounter with a crow who was observing us from the branch and discussed the difference between him /her and a rook.
We had a coffee stop and saw a collared dove and heard a blackcap. On our return journey we heard the distinctive call of a great spotted woodpecker. Then just as the river split into a smaller channel off to the right we had a fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher darting down the channel. We walked on hoping to see the elusive bird coming out at as the channel rejoined the river but weren’t in luck this time. We stopped by a group of forget me knots to admire an orange tip butterfly displaying beautifully. We had seen the holly blue butterflies on our walk together with small white ones.
The walk was such a delight for the senses. All the trees with their different coloured green leaves. The smell of the wild garlic. There were bluebells, forget me knots and stitchwort to admire. Then there was the added bonus of bird song.
Some of the members stopped in the Snuff Mill lodge garden for lunch in the sunshine. They were rewarded by the sighting of a grey wagtail. A thoroughly enjoyable morning.
Birds seen: Birds heard but not seen:
| Blackbird | Great tit | |
| Robin | Goldcrest | Blackcap |
| Wood Pigeon | Stock dove | Nuthatch |
| Wren | Moorhen | Song thrush |
| Magpie | Jackdaw | Great spotted woodpecker |
| Long tailed tit | Collared dove | |
| Mallard | Kingfisher | |
| Crow | Grey wagtail |
