Paul's Birding Diary

Wednesday 31st January 2007 A trip to New Fancy View before work this morning to look for a Great Grey Shrike didn't turn up what that bird, but at least I year-ticked Brambling . I could have stayed there all morning in the crisp, sunny conditions, but had to leave at 8.20am to get to work at a reasonable time.

Saturday 27th January 2007 An early morning trip out to the Forest of Dean rewarded me with two Hawfinches at Parkend, near Parkend Church. Walking down from my car parked near the church, I eventually heard the distinctive calls I was hoping for from near the tree-tops, giving reasonable views. I was nice to hear three drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers too. No sign of Dipper at Cannop but a few Siskins about and plenty of singing Robins including this one in the photo. A Willow Tit and two Crossbills at Brierley plus 20 Redpolls and another Siskin finished the morning niceley. Not content with that I went to Slimbride WWT in the afternoon to get better views of the over-wintering Great Skua . It was still pretty distant though I did manage to get some very fuzzy photos. (photos: Paul Masters).