Winter light in one of Fingle's conifer stands

In the eighth instalment of our “Bird of the Month” blog we look at a species which has adapted to life in Fingle’s conifer plantations

If you’ve ever visited Fingle Woods with birdwatching in mind, the chances are you’ve mostly spent your time in the areas of ancient broadleaf woodland or open scrub, and largely avoided the parts of the site covered with dense Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce. Although it’s true that the non-native conifer species support a less diverse array of life than the other areas of the site, they nevertheless provide valuable food and shelter to a wide range of species. This is particularly true in the winter months, when the bare branches of the broadleaf trees offer little shelter from the cold winds which scour the valley.

Birdwatching in a conifer plantation can be an unrewarding and often uncomfortable experience. The majority of bird activity occurs out of sight, high in the dense canopy, and the best way to avoid getting a crick in your neck through endlessly staring upwards is to let your ears do the work! By far the commonest song you’ll hear in the conifers is the repetitive “Pee-chew, pee-chew, pee-chew” of the Coal Tit, Fingle’s most numerous breeding species. Another often heard sound is a continuous wheezy twittering, often made by a large (but apparently invisible) flock of birds distributed throughout a stand of conifers. From late winter through to midsummer this twittering intensifies, and individual birds will break out into a song which is a more musical and elaborate version of their usual call.This buzz of activity high overhead is a good sign that you’ve located a flock of Siskin one of the UK’s smallest finch species. It’s a shame they so seldom venture down from the high canopy, because the males, especially in breeding plumage, are stunning birds, with their bold black and yellow plumage. The females, with their yellow and green wings and streaked grey breasts are less immediately eye-catching but still very attractive birds.