LYNFORD ARBORETUM
Trees from all over the world attract varied birdlife
What better place to mix pleasure with many interesting birds and wildlife and a collection of more than 200 species of trees? The estate was purchased in 1865 by politician Stephen Lyne-stephens and taken over by the Forestry Commission, with many more tree species added, with future plans to increase the collection yet again. A nearby gravel pit and a lake add to the habitat. A recent archaeological dig in the gravel found several Woolly Mammoths! The bird that people really want to see is the Hawfinch. With plantings of Hornbeam and Cherry, this bird cannot go wrong. An amazing count of 62 tells you that, in good Hawfinch years, it can’t be missed – counts of up to four birds are more normal. There are two distinct areas for them, with feeding in Hornbeam and roosting by the ‘paddock’. A cherry area is also proving to be popular. A wide variety of other birds have also been found. A Little Bunting was a great find but with all those conifers what about Twobarred Crossbill? Add on breeding Firecrest, passing migrants such as Wood and Yellow-browed Warblers, Pied Flycatcher and Ring Ouzel and it shows anything is possible. Walk to the gravel pits and sit in the hide and you may see several duck species, as well as grebes. Even Ferruginous Duck has turned up along with records of Smew, Scaup, Goosander and a Shag! Both Great White and Little Egrets have graced the pits along with Bittern but their eyes must have popped out when a White-tailed Eagle flew over! Even here, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a rare sight these days but you are more likely to see Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers flying to the trees. The flash of a Kingfisher is a possibility. Dragonflies are great fun to ID in summer both here and at the lake.