Found myself in Emer Bog just after Dawn! Place was tranquil.. a bit too tranquil for my liking with just a Water Rail and Tawny Owl calling. Had a fairly thorough look around the Common, but not a lot about today. 10 Mistle Thrushes over, very little in the open areas with 2 Stonechats about all I could see. I did end the walk on a relative high with a few Blackcaps, loads of Chiff-Chaffs, 2 Goldcrests and a Whitethroat in the scrub near Green Lane.
Have overlooked the scrubby area near Green Lane in the past, but looks good for Warblers with plenty of cover and bushes full of berries. The best bits of the Common seem to be the corner nearest to Emer Bog, Checkpoint Charlie (corner nearest the Village) and the footpath linking these two areas, and the scrubby area near the Green Lane Entrance. Quite a walk to cover these bits! and if Emer Bog is added, you are talking about a good 3 hours to do the area justice. |
