The Friends of Hailes Quarry Park are inviting everyone to take part in a project to help restore and improve the habitats and foodchains of the birds of prey. Buzzards, sparrowhawks and red kites are sometimes seen in the park, and there used to be peregrine falcons as well. They are hoping that they can improve the foodchains and the habitats for the birds in the park with planting to create new habitats or food sources, once the project is further ahead.
You can take part by coming along to a free Bird Walk in the Quarry this Sunday, 20 July 2025, 2.00pm led by Des Loughney, where you will get a bird-spotting sheet to fill in when you see or hear one of the 32 bird species here.
This is a great time of year for birds: Des says we will see some of the summer visitors that have migrated here until October like swifts, swallows, chiffchaffs, willow warblers, and blackcaps, as well as the year-round resident birds. One day this week, Des found 16 different bird species in the park.
Children are welcome on the Bird Walk if accompanied by an adult. Please dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear. The walk sets off from the play area in Hailes Quarry Park at 2.00pm and the full walk takes about 2 hours.
On the walk, as well as helping us to identify birds by sight, Des will also be using the ‘merlin’ app (which can be downloaded for free from the internet) to identify birds by the sounds of their songs. It helps pick out species such as goldcrest who lurk in foliage in the summer. The Friends can help show you how to download and use this if you would like to bring your phone – or if you prefer, you can use the birdspotting sheet and a pencil.
Everyone is warmly welcome to the walk, and there’s no need to book in advance.
More information – https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-prey-project-hailes-quarry-park/journal.
You can contact the Friends at hailesquarrypark@gmail.com.
