Forest Birds

Saturday 10th January 2015
Hawfinch, Forest of Dean
A trip out to the Forest of Dean this morning with Andy and Mark was very productive, despite the initially unpromising weather. Early rain gave way to sunny conditions, although the NW wind kept temperatures down. The highlights were a Dipper at Wenchford, 12 Hawfinches at another site, the Great Grey Shrike, a pair of Stonechats and a Goshawk at Crabtree Hill, and seven Goosanders at Woorgreens.
Great Grey Shrike, Crabtree Hill
Drake Goosander, Woorgreens
Early on around Quedgeley near the canal / Clearwater Drive area I saw two Little Egrets, a Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail.
Little Egret, Quedgeley
A Coal Tit on the garden feeders is the first I've seen in the garden for some time. A male Great Spotted Woodpecker has replaced usual female this weekend; the male Blackcap continues to be almost ever-present at the feeders.
Coal Tit, garden
After making the most of the day with a 3-mile walk around the National Trust's Brockhampton Estate in Herefordshire with Linda, we got back in time for me to pop down to Court Lake to see the Scaup I dipped last weekend; the Tawny Owl was in its usual tree and a Kingfisher was another highlight in the fading light.
Scaup on Court Lake, Frampton-onSevern (left)

Tawny Owl, Frampton-onSevern

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