To the Forest of Dean and back...

Hello

Eleanor's early morning foray in to the Brampton Valley led to the discovery of two Little Egrets and a Barn Owl below Hanging Houghton this morning and birds at Blueberry Farm included two Short-eared Owls, two Barn Owls, a pair of Grey Partridge and twenty-five Golden Plovers. Further afield and two Ravens and four Siskins were at Staverton and at 1pm Ravensthorpe Reservoir provided views of an Otter and two Grey Wagtails.

Also today and over at Thrapston Gravel Pits, Eric Graham confirmed the continuing presence of a Great White Egret and also a Peregrine amongst more common fare. Neil Hasdell spent some time at Earls Barton Gravel Pits and saw a Mediterranean Gull, the female Scaup and nine Black-tailed Godwits on the Summer Leys reserve.

Early yesterday morning a Barn Owl was a roadside observation between the villages of Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell.

Five of us migrated down to Gloucestershire today, starting with a brief stop to catch some views of the two Penduline Tits on the outskirts of Gloucester. Moving on to the Forest of Dean we encountered some Hawfinches at Parkend, three displaying Goshawks at New Fancy View and small numbers of Mandarin Ducks at Cannop Ponds. We drove to the nearby Symonds Yat Rock and watched plenty of Common Buzzards, Ravens and a Peregrine enjoying the weak sunshine and breeze.

We finished the day at Crabtree Hill back in the forest where we watched a Great Grey Shrike predating newts, a couple of pairs of Stonechat, a Goosander and several Crossbills.

Regards

Neil M

Penduline Tits

Hawfinch

Common Buzzard.

Displaying Raven.

Mandarin Ducks