Keith Betton, chair of Hampshire Ornithological Society and former Hampshire Bird Recorder, will be leading a guided bird walk in Froyle. Keith is an entertaining and highly knowledgeable guide. Please note the change of date to the 28th April.
The walk will start at Froyle Village Hall at 9am and is expected to last approximately 2.5 hours. We will be walking up Bamber Lane towards Yarnhams. Froyle Estate have kindly agreed to allow us access to Hawkins Wood, which is ancient semi-natural woodland; this is shown on a 1771 inventory of Froyle woods. Ancient semi-natural woods are woods that have developed naturally. Most have been used by humans – often managed for timber and other industries over the centuries – but they have had woodland cover for over 400 years. We will be able to explore which birds are within Hawkins wood, and hopefully the bluebells will be in bloom.
Binoculars will be useful for bird spotting, and appropriate footwear in case it’s muddy. Please feel free to bring your own refreshments. All welcome on the walk but no dogs please.

Summary of the walk: Despite the inclement unseasonal weather, Froyle Wildlife was fortunate to have Keith Betton lead us on an informative and entertaining guided bird walk up Bamber Lane in Froyle. Keith is chair of Hampshire Ornithological Society, and has extensive avian knowledge. Thanks to his observations we were able to see and/or hear twenty eight different species of birds. We also learnt various characteristics of their life and behaviour.
List of species:
Rooks; Woodpigeons; Blackbird; Robin; House Sparrow; Starling; Song thrush; Wren; Linnets; Skylark; Dunnock; Chiffchaff; Chaffinch; Great Tit; Nuthatch; Blue Tit; Kestrel; Goldfinch; Greenfinch; Collared Dove; Red Kite; Long Tailed Tit; Blackcap; Tree Pippet; Pheasant; Magpie; Coal Tit; Jackdaw.
We were very lucky to see a Tree pipit, with it’s unusual characteristic behaviour of singing while it ‘parachuted’ down to the ground . This is a red listed bird that will have migrated back to the UK this year from Central Africa, and is not commonly seen. Thanks to Froyle Estate we were able to explore Hawkins Wood, with it’s carpets of bluebells to admire. Even though the weather was more typical for a February cold day, all attendees enjoyed the event, and were very grateful for Keith’s time, knowledge and dialogue throughout the walk. Hopefully there will be an improvement in the Spring weather soon for the birds!

Jayne Fisher