Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent (1 Viewer)

[pstraughan]

I went out with my bird watching group this morning. For those who don't know Knole Park, it is a National Trust property,mainly deciduous woodland, especially oak. It has been managed so that there is a lot of dead wood, some dating back to the 1987 hurricane, also plantations of birch and areas of bracken and scrub.

Best sightings of the day were of several male Redstarts singing from trees at several locations within the park also in song flight. We heard, but I did not see, Chiff Chaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler. Also saw a male Yellowhammer and Green Woodpecker. Several other common species e.g. Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greylag Geese, Stock Dove were also present.

I must brush up on my bird song!

 

[PaulK]

I did not have much success when I went. Where abouts did you go? Did you park by the manor house? We parked there and explored the area but only saw the common stuff like blue tit, great tit and chiffchaff!

 

[pstraughan]

I did not have much success when I went. Where abouts did you go? Did you park by the manor house? We parked there and explored the area but only saw the common stuff like blue tit, great tit and chiffchaff!

We parked in St Julien's Road - between Bitchett's Green and the A225 - and went through the pedestrian gate into the park. You can't drive in at that point. Turned left, walked for a couple of hundred yards on the path and turned right. The golf course was then on our right about 100 yards away. We did a circuit, at times coming off the path. We were not near the house or the road at any time. There are 4-5 Redstart sites in the park. It was my first sighting of Redstart. They were singing from the tops of very tall, slightly isolated, trees. If I hadn't had an expert with me, I wouldn't have know what they were.

Sorry, I can't be more exact than that.

Good luck - I hope you find them.

Pat

 

[CornishExile]

Pat's right - park up in St Julien's road - there are several access points into the park. The huge drove that runs parallel to the road is especially good for Redstart.

I'd suggest an early morning visit is best - the dawn chorus there is as good as it gets anywhere, and the Redstarts tend to favour lower or side branches of mature trees for singing at this time of day, so you should get better views.

Away from this drove, following the paths into the park, a good chance of roding Woodcocks, and if you're there at dawn itself, flight views of Nightjars too.

Knole map

ce

 

[PaulK]

Thanks alot both of you. Ill be visiting in a couple of weeks hopeing to see the Redstarts. I always struggle to get them on my year list!!

Paul