29th-30th March

Saturday

Had a look at Waltham Brooks had the Shrike but distance not a lot else did have Yellowhammer, Next stop Chichester Cathedral looking for the Peregrines we did hear them calling as we got there where told the male had gone into the nest box so we sat and had lunch then off for a coffee after I returned to the spot where we had lunch and the male came out and flew behind the Cathedral then returned then as we were leaving the car park had a Swallow flyover as we were driving back I checked the pager to find there was a Hoopoe at Climping so we set of parked in the car park then walked to the hotel where there where a group of birders who said the bird had just flown over to where it had been most of the afternoon so we all set of and found it had some good views then back to base .

 

 

Sunday

Decided to have a look at Pagham Lagoon soon found out the car park at the end of Harbour road is now closed so after parking near the shops we went for a coffee and tea I then checked the map to see if we could get to the end of the lagoon we set of and after a chat with a local he put us in the right direction on arriving at the lagoon I soon found the Iceland Gull which I got some good pics of.

 

 

The Forest of Dean 8th March 2014

Both buses where on time arrived at my mates for a 7 – 30 leave on route along the M40 we had 7 Red Kites we would have had more but it was misty and we were hoping it would burn off before we got to the forest after breakfast at the normal spot just after we set of we had another Red Kite plus 2 Common Buzzards on arriving in the forest we headed for our first stop

Fancy New Watch Point

We arrived at ¼ to eleven as we got to the watch point where there where some birders already set up they were on a Goshawk off to the left a nice start to the next 40 minutes we then had another Goshawk of to the right we also had Common Crossbill flying over with one that sat on top of a tree but by the time I got the camera ready it had flown, then a male Goshawk appeared in front of us we also had Raven, Brambling, Common Buzzards (4) then just to round it of we had a pair of Goshawks displaying so ending up with 5 Goshawks then off to our next spot.

Cannop Ponds

Here we had Mandarin Duck, Buzzard we had a look at the stream but there was a lot of water we did not see much else here so on to the next spot.

Parkend

Here we spent some time walking along the stream for about a mile should have realised the water level here was high so no sign of the Dipper, we the headed for Parkend church for Hawfinch with no luck but we did have another Goshawk here making 6 for the day we were told we might find Hawfinch behind the cricket ground so we spent some time there but again no luck so onto our final spot.

Brierley

We parked up and headed for Serridge ridge a nice steep climb where early this morning some of the Two Barred Crossbills had been seen plenty of Common Crossbills but no sign of the Two Barred we spoke to someone who had been there over 3 hours and had seen none of them we then continued back down of the ridge to a spot we normally do on the way down we had Siskins and Lesser Redpole we had been told there where some Hawfinch’s in and around the hornbeams on arriving at the spot we could hear them calling and after a short time had a glimpse of one flying of behind the trees there was no sign of any Marsh Tits

So it was now time to call it a day and start heading home we had a nice meal on route after being dropped off at my mates I got my 2 buses home arriving just after 11 so ending an enjoyable days birding

London Wetland Centre

Spent some time at the London wetland centre today on arriving we headed to the Dulverton hide where we had the pair of Peregrines displaying over the hospital here we had Shovler tufted duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, and a selection of gulls we then head for the Lagoon Walk where we had Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Great tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Hedge Sparrow, then off for a coffee. Then we headed for the Headley Hide here we had more Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Little Grebe, and more gulls we were told the Bittern was showing to our right seen from the Peacock Tower we did not see it then there was a report of Mandarin Ducks which we did not see we then had a look from the observation area where we found the Caspian Gull that had been reported so ending a very pleasant time at the centre

Beddington Farm Land & Park

Spent this afternoon at Beddington Farm Land and Beddington Park on arriving the first bird I was put on was a Peregrine, Could not get to the areas that I wanted to have a look at due to the footpath being closed due to flooding so had a look at the two lakes plenty of water birds lots of Teal plus Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Canada Geese, Little Grebe, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, plus a selection of Gulls Black Headed, Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Common. Then I had a look at the wooded area of Beddington Park Great & Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Ring Necked Parraket, but no sign of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker