Monday 12th February 2024 - Forest of Dean.

 

This week the 3 Amigos changed their bird spotting day to Monday as we were invited to join Tom on a recce to the Forest of Dean before the Bath RSPB’s trip later in the month. We all met at David's for an 8.30 start. Tom drove and we started off via Lansdown and here the Golden Plover were in their usual field. We continued on over the 1^st Severn Crossing to our 1^st stop at Parkend. On arrival several birders were already here looking. Lots of small birds were in the Yew trees or on the ground underneath Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch and Great Tit were all found. A Carrion Crow flew over and a Greenfinch could be heard singing and a lovely male was found in the top of one of the Yew’s, close by a Blackbird was eating berries. The main reason for the stop here was because its one of the most reliable places to see Hawfinch and talking to other birders they had been seen before we arrived so we were very hopeful that they would appear and they did when David spotted a pair in a tree next to the cricket field. As we watch the finches a few Magpies flew over. On to our second stop a car park just past Speech House. It was here that we started a walk to Drybrook Station a landmark in the forest the sight of an old railway now a cycle path. In the car park we found lots of birds but most we had seen previously, the only new for the day was the 1^st of many Robin’s we saw or heard during the walk. As we reached an open area we spotted a Buzzard in a tree.

Buzzard - Forest of Dean (Bath Birdwatcher)

Birds were few and far between but Bryan spotted a single Mealy Redpoll while we were looking for a Goldcrest I could hear but in the end could not find. Next a small flock of Long Tail Tit’s were found and a hunting Sparrowhawk flew past, a Dunnock appeared from some undergrowth. Most if these sightings were well spaced and we had to move on for quite a distance before I heard another singing Goldcrest that we duly, found followed by 2 Mistle Thrush’s. We were now after a walk of more than 2 miles at Drybrook Station where Bryan and I heard a Crossbill singing and a beautiful male was found in the top of a fir tree with the female close by. Time to head back to the cars and walking back I heard a high pitched call not to dissimilar to a Goldcrest only to find a singing Treecreeper. Moving on to our last stop at Cannop Ponds where we had lunch sat out on the picnic tables a bit chilly till the sun shone making it very pleasant. While eating and watching we added Mallard, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Herring Gull. Coot and Little Grebe to our lists. After lunch we walked by the top of the 2 ponds only adding Mandarin. We then moved to the bottom lake parking by the stone works here a Pied Wagtail was on the ground and a Siskin was on the feeders with 2 Goldfinch. A pair of Goosander were at the top of the lake and a House Sparrow was coming to seed put out on tree stumps by the lake. David and I needed to spend a penny so looking for a quiet tree we found a Marsh Tit, so went and got the others as this bird is becoming more difficult to find in recent years. A Greylag Goose had appeared on the lake and after returning to re find the Marsh Tit which we did we walked up the path and I added a Woodpigeon that I had managed to miss during the day and a Song Thrush. Back at the lake a Lesser Black Back Gull was flying around. This was the final bird seen here as it was time to head home but on the way I did spot a Peregrine that the other 3 managed to miss. A good day for me with 8 year ticks the Crossbill being the 1^st in 2 years and the Hawfinch always difficult to see. It was a shame that I was unable to photograph these birds but will try again on the next visit.