Somserset Forest – Shifty Siskin!
Somerset forest in Coleraine is home to the locally well
known ‘trim trail’ which is a series of paths and trails around a mixed conifer
and deciduous forest. The forest is under the ownership of the Forestry Service
of Northern Ireland.
The area is home to a wide variety of birds. Blue, Coal,
Long-tailed and Great Tits, Robins, Wrens, Chaffinch, Black Caps, Jays and Tree Creepers which would all be around at various times of
the year. However, the little Siskin, which appears to be quite scarce around here, is a little character!
The siskin is a very elusive bird. It is highly unlikely
that you will stumble upon one - but rather its the sort of bird that needs to show itself - for example at a garden feeder or feasting on a pine cone. They seem to like coniferous forests and perhaps that's why we get an odd glimpse of them here in Somerset.
They are very nervous little birds which tend to disappear at the slightest sound or hint of trouble.
From what we have seen however, once on the feeder they cling on tightly and remain very still when feeding - normally upside down for some reason! They can be identified quickly as a result as the other birds tend to move around quite a lot - never sitting still.
This definitely cannot be classed as a Small Brown Bird. On closer inspection it is anything but this - we'll let the picture do the talking!
Free parking is available at either side of the forest - at the main entrance on the Castleroe Road - or at the Bushtown Road (limited spaces - please bear and mind this entrance is sometimes used by forestry vehicles)
Further information is available from these links:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/siskin/index.aspx
http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=148
Note - as in most caches placed in woodland, the gps co-ordinates may not be 100% accurate. We always take several different readings to get as close as possible.
The cache is a small tab-lock box not far from the path. This cache is not wheelchair friendly.
UPDATE - Folks, as Sperrinwalker has kindly pointed out, we need to take care of cache sites especially after the difficulties with getting approved access to FSNI property. A new clue has been provided!..
Good luck!