Hello
Eleanor's visit to Staverton this morning provided views of a pair of Raven and a subsequent visit to Ravensthorpe Reservoir yielded sightings of a Great White Egret and the juvenile Whooper Swan.
A merry band of us headed down to the Forest of Dean area in Gloucestershire today, the latter half of the day endorsed by blue skies and sunshine! An initial visit to Parkend was good for a flock of Hawfinches numbering at least twelve birds. With the sun poking through the clouds and a breeze becoming more consistent we headed for New Fancy View watchpoint in the middle of the forest where we saw two displaying Goshawks, a Peregrine, a Merlin plus the usual Common Buzzards, Ravens, and Siskins plus a few Crossbills.
We then drove the 12 or so miles to Symonds Yat Rock and at the watchpoint there another Goshawk was on show on our arrival and showed well. At least four Peregrines were in dispute with each other and birds on the river below us included several Goosanders. Ravens showed well and were in some numbers...
Our next venue was Crabtree Hill ridge back in the forest where we caught up with the wintering Great Grey Shrike, another Hawfinch and a small flock of Crossbills, a Stonechat and more Goosanders plus three Bramblings and plenty of Siskins. A quick visit to Cannop Ponds and we counted 23 Mandarin Ducks, adding a bit more colour to the day!
Our final venue was a return to Parkend and we found a Dipper on a small stream running through the village; another Merlin overflying the M5 motorway on our way back was our last good bird of the day.
Regards
Neil M
Eleanor's visit to Staverton this morning provided views of a pair of Raven and a subsequent visit to Ravensthorpe Reservoir yielded sightings of a Great White Egret and the juvenile Whooper Swan.
A merry band of us headed down to the Forest of Dean area in Gloucestershire today, the latter half of the day endorsed by blue skies and sunshine! An initial visit to Parkend was good for a flock of Hawfinches numbering at least twelve birds. With the sun poking through the clouds and a breeze becoming more consistent we headed for New Fancy View watchpoint in the middle of the forest where we saw two displaying Goshawks, a Peregrine, a Merlin plus the usual Common Buzzards, Ravens, and Siskins plus a few Crossbills.
We then drove the 12 or so miles to Symonds Yat Rock and at the watchpoint there another Goshawk was on show on our arrival and showed well. At least four Peregrines were in dispute with each other and birds on the river below us included several Goosanders. Ravens showed well and were in some numbers...
Our next venue was Crabtree Hill ridge back in the forest where we caught up with the wintering Great Grey Shrike, another Hawfinch and a small flock of Crossbills, a Stonechat and more Goosanders plus three Bramblings and plenty of Siskins. A quick visit to Cannop Ponds and we counted 23 Mandarin Ducks, adding a bit more colour to the day!
Our final venue was a return to Parkend and we found a Dipper on a small stream running through the village; another Merlin overflying the M5 motorway on our way back was our last good bird of the day.
Regards
Neil M
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| Adult Peregrine carrying what appears to be a Great Tit! |
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| Displaying Raven. |
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| Drake Mandarin Duck. |
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