Set of at 7 this morning for a Trip to the Forest of Dean our first stop the other side of Oxford was for breakfast what a saga that turned out to be we where the only ones in the place but still took over half hour to get breakfast as it was do cold the first time we have been along the M40 and no Kites, So after breakfast yes we did get it in the end we then set of for our next stop at Gloucester to see if we could see the Penduline Tits on route we had a Buzzard sitting in a field , After more hold ups at Cheltenham we arrived about a hour later than planned at 10 - 30 (as we found out later the birds had flown back behind the hotel over the road) we met a few people who said they had not seen them so we decided to continuer on in to the forest and if we had time come back later here we had our first bird of prey in the air a Sparrowhawk,
The Forest
On arriving at 11-30 we set of for the raptor watch point we set of for the top of the hill as we got there some one said there is a Goshawk sitting (our target bird) we got on it just as it flew, over the next half hour it put on a good show this bird was of to the right while scanning we had Siskin and Crossbill fly over of to the left we had a Buzzard and 2 Ravens, so we kept scanning and then straight out in front we had a pair of Goshawk displaying, Also while here we heard Wild Boar down in the valley in front of us but no sign, so on to our next stop Cannock ponds we park by the works at the end of the ponds here we had Grey Wagtail and on the feeders Blue Tit, Dunnock, Long Tailed Tit and a very brief view of a Marsh Tit plus a small section of ducks on the ponds, Our next stop was at Parkend near the pub to see if we could find Dipper but here the stream was quite high plus to many people with dogs so no Dipper but we did here a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but could not locate it,So then a stop for some thing to eat and drink, Then onto our next stop we decided to have a look at Cannock stream further up Bob took the path by the stream and I took the upper path as we where hopping for Bullfinch sadly no Bullfinch, Then Bob called out Dipper so I made my way down to the Stream and finally got on it I did try to follow it for a picture but it was to flighty so no luck,But while on the top path I did hear another Lesser Spotted Woodpecker again no sign, Then we decided to have a look at the feeding station the other side of the ponds near the car park we where hopping the marsh Tit would show as we had been told it was showing well earlier, We spent some time here we had 5 species of tit Great, Blue, Coal, Long Tailed and only got a brief view of the Marsh, There where plenty of other birds to see Chaffinch, Greenfinch,Reed Bunting, Robin, Nuthatch, Blackbird, and on the pond Bob found 2 Yellow Legged Gulls,
As time was getting on we decide to have another look for the Penduline Tits at Gloucester so of we set doing well until I told Bob to take the wrong exit at the roundabout on arriving we where told they are there but as we got to the couple who where still there they said they had just flown further down along the reeds and as the light was fading it appeared they had gone to roost so taking the wrong exit at the roundabout cost us the birds so that was the Dip of the day (that is 2 lots of Penduline Tits we have tried for and not seen this year) so then homeward bound we stopped at Oxford on the M40 for something to eat then set of until we reached the M25 all going well then we sat in a traffic jam for 40 minutes going nowhere so finally getting back to Bobs at just gone 9 then I had a easy trip home so ending a good but frustrating day in the Forest of Dean
My year list is now 152 plus 1 Heard
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