Tuesday 24th February 2026 - Forest of Dean


Grey Wagtail - Canop Pond (Bath Birdwatcher)

Do we go to Pilning Wetlands for the Hooded Merganser or The Forest of Dean. The Merganser would not be a lifer as we saw the one at Radipole Lake in Weymouth some years ago so it was the forest. Driving up to the motorway a Red Kite was eyeing some roadkill and a Buzzard was seen from the motorway. The road from Lydney to Parkend was closed so we had to take a detour via Bream where we added Jackdaw. 1st stop was Parkend where we were hoping for Hawfinch and talking to a fellow birder he had seen one high in a Beech Tree. We failed to find any during the time we were there but we did see Herring Gull, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail, Great Tit, and Coal Tit. Time to move on to New Fancy viewpoint, as we got out of the car 2 Carrion Crows flew over and Blue Tits were in the trees, walking up to the viewpoint a Robin was singing. From the viewpoint Ravens flew over calling and a Blackbird flew by but the bird we were hoping to see a Goshawk could not be found although we did see many Buzzards some displaying and more Ravens flew by again cronking. We had spent lots of time looking for the Goshawks and it was fast approaching lunchtime when David spotted a bird of  prey out to our left quite low in the sky and YES it was the bird we had hoped to see a Goshawk which disappeared behind the trees. Time to go so a last scan and bingo another Goshawk on the skyline to our right and as the 1st it dropped behind the trees. We were very pleased to see 2 as we failed to find any last year. Walking back to the car a Red Admiral Butterfly was lapping up the sun on the footpath. We sat in the carpark and had lunch then headed for Canop Ponds parking at the stone works end. Seed has been spread on some stone blocks where a Nuthatch was feeding. A Cormorant was the next sighting followed by Canada Geese and 2 Mute Swans, 3 Chaffinch were now feeding on the seed with Blue, Great and Coal Tits dashing in and out for a seed. 

Chaffinch (M) - Canop Pond (Bath Birdwatcher)

A male Goosander was feeding on the pond and 2 Dunnocks were playing chase in the bankside vegetation. 

Goosander (M) - Canop Pond (Bath Birdwatcher)

A Lesser Black Back Gull flew in and a pair of Mallard swam out from the reeds. A Little Grebe appeared from nowhere swimming across the pond and 2 Grey Wagtails landed by the outfall. A Kingfisher flew by  and a Coot was in the middle of the pond. We then walked towards the 1st pond along the cycle path finding a Wren on the way and also another Grey Wagtail in a ditch.  

Grey Wagtail - Canop Pond (Bath Birdwatcher)

A beautiful male Brimstone Butterfly fluttered by my 1st of the year. As we walked on I noticed movement on the trunk of a tree a Great Spotted Woodpecker tearing pieces of wood from the tree. A few pairs of Mandarin Ducks were by the side of the pond. Nothing more until we reached the feeders by the top pond and here amongst all the common birds was at least one Marsh Tit a year tick and on the pond a Moorhen and Tufted Duck. Nothing extra was seen as we made our way back to the car and home. A good day with 4-year ticks and the 1st butterflies of the year.

 

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