GOYTRE HOUSE WOOD

Took a trip to Goytre House Wood on Sunday 24th April, I've been wanting to see and photograph Pied Flycatchers for years but because of one excuse or another I've never got round to it.

I saw some nice images of Pied Flycatcher on a Facebook site I regularly contribute to called Gwent Birders. I put out the question of where would be the best site to visit to find these birds and after contemplating a number of suggestions I decided to try Goytre House Wood (which funny enough was the nearest to my home). I looked up Goytre House Wood in the Gwent Ornithological Societies (GOS) publication Birdwatching Walks in Gwent, GOS actually own the site and as a member I thought it was about time I actually visited the place. 

Below is a map I used out of the book highlighting the recommended route

map of a planned walk from the gos book

I arrived there about 9am, I parked in the free but small public car park opposite the Goytre Arms Pub. You have to cross the main road right next to the car park to access the site where you walk up a lane towards the entrance. There's some lovely fields and farm buildings either side of the lane where I saw House Sparrows carrying nesting material.

In one of the fields there was a large pond where there were Mallard Ducks and this solitary Grey Heron.

As you walked up the lane there's a small path that takes you up a small banking through a gate where you follow the path for another 30 yards and into the wood. 

The place was alive with singing and calling birds most noticeable Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Blackbirds, Song thrush, Mistle thrush, Chaffinch's and a host of others. But I had gone there for Pied Flycatcher and I wasn't disappointed, around some trees that surround a small pond just inside the wood there they were, both male and female.

male pied flycatcher

the female

I stood there very quiet for a while as they were busily flying about feeding up I suspect ready for breeding. I took loads of pictures but as the birds kept their distance and were constantly on the move it was difficult to get any detailed pic's but I did manage a couple of usable half decent images.

I left them after a while and walked through the wood and came out at the canal.

canal

It looks rather idyllic on the picture but there were a stream of walker, joggers and mountain bike riders enjoying the canal as well so there wasn't that many birds on show. I walked up there for a bit then cut back into the wood where I grabbed a pic of this Wren.

wren

Also in one of the fields opposite the wood was this feeding Mistle Thrush.

mistle thrush

After being there for a good couple of hours I decided to make my way back, walking around back to the gate this Song thrush and its chick sneaked out of the undergrowth.

 
 I really enjoyed my morning at Goytre House Wood and it was great to finally get Pied Flycatcher under my belt.

Goytre House wood is a place where I hope to be visiting again it's a cracking little site with the potential of attracting some really good birds, so until next time thanks for dropping by and I'll catch you soon.