Friends of St Augustines ventured out into the wild on Saturday, 22nd April and Margaret Knight reports for Penarth Nub News on what happened.

"We were delighted to have a total of 27 keen bird watchers assembled by 7am at the Kymin car park.

"The walk was led by John Wilson, whose encyclopaedic knowledge of all aspects of ornithology proved very valuable. Happily, it was a dry if rather cold morning.

"At the outset, we were welcomed by a number of Wrens singing their unmistakable and remarkably loud call, considering their tiny size. We then ascended into the wooded area behind the Kymin house and spotted around a dozen species of bird, none of which were especially unusual (see the list below) although, of course, it was encouraging to see what seemed to be a reasonably healthy number. It was also very helpful and informative that John was able to identify a particular bird species from its song, as this is a much more difficult and less well-known feature than purely visual determination.

"As ever, in our experience at least, a bird walk accompanying John always produces a notable surprise. In the present case, this occurred right at the beginning when we spotted what looked like two pigeons perched close to each other, high in a tree behind the house. Closer inspection however, and quick confirmation by John, revealed that there were in fact Sparrowhawks, at which point the smaller and darker-coloured male hopped right next to the brown and considerably larger female hawk and then proceeded to, er, how can I put this, participate in egg making. This remarkable sight only lasted about ten seconds after which he flew off, perhaps in search of similar adventures. Very notably, John Wilson then told us that he had never seen such a thing involving Sparrowhawks!

"We ended the walk by a slow meander, bird watching as we went, up to the church for the usual tea and cakes, which were most welcome.

"Species seen: Sparrowhawks; Woodpigeon; Wrens; House Sparrows; Goldfinch; Starlings; Blackbird; Carrion Crows; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Herring and Lesser Black-backed gulls; Dunnock. A few tail-enders lagging behind up Church Avenue, spotted a Collared Dove in an adjacent garden.

"We also heard a Nuthatch and Robin and a Blackcap.

"Many thanks to John Wilson for his usual depth of knowledge, dispensed as ever in a most civilized and understandable fashion, to Margaret Knight for the organisation, posters and cake, and to Tricia and Marion for the teas and welcome at the church."