Tuesday 4th June 2024 - Nagshead

 


Nagshead RSPB - Bath Birdwatcher

On Tuesday the 4th of June the 3 Amigos finally were able to visit Nagshead an RSPB nature reserve in the Forest Of Dean. Our first stop was at Parkend where we parked on the road adjacent to the cricket ground, here we had a short walk along the stream hoping for a Dipper but no luck but during the stop we did spot House Martin, Swift, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Long Tailed Tit, Blackbird and Carrion Crow. And after a bit of a search a singing Goldcrest, and while looking over the cricket ground we added Buzzard, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail and Mistle Thrush. As we were about to leave a Lesser Black Back Gull flew over. At Nagshead our first sighting was a calling Wren and a Mallard by the 1st pond. As we continued towards the lower pond we heard a singing Garden Warbler which showed very well on a branch in a bush. Blue and Great Tit were quickly added to the days list. Next was one of the highlights of the day when we spotted our first Pied Flycatcher, we saw several more during the day but the 1st is always very exciting. We then met up with another group of birders who had also found a Pied Flycatcher which landed on a fallen branch, and while I was looking at it a male Redstart flew into a bush behind another highlight for me but unfortunately before I could get the others onto it, it flew down on the ground and we didn't see it again. From the lower hide Bryan found a Kingfisher and we also saw a Chaffinch which was the only other new bird for the day.

 

Lower Pond - Bath Birdwatcher

                  Making our way back to the car a Song Thrush flew by, we had heard many                            earlier but this was the 1st we had seen. Back at the car it was time for lunch.

                After lunch we headed for Campbell hide finding Nuthatch and Robin on the way.                 walking on the path to the hide we spotted what was for me the 3rd highlight of                     the day a Spotted Flycatcher it or another also showed from the hide. We then                         ended the day walking the short loop, and here we saw a Blackcap, again a bird                     we had heard several times during the day. Our 4th highlight of the day was a bird                 we found by call a Firecrest a lovely little bird that shower well in a small tree. An                 end to our visit to Nagshead but not our sightings as on our way home we added                     Swallow and Mute Swan on the way home. Nagshead is a great place to visit                          especially at this time of the year with several special species to be found, but you                 will never see a large number of species we found 31 during the day, but without                    the Parkend stop mod 20's would be all we would have seen.

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