Next stop was for the Two-barred Crossbill but we decided to stop off at New Fancy viewpoint as we were passing to waste our time looking for Goshawk. We arrived atop the viewpoint and within about 2 minutes Lee Evans spots a Goshawk against the sunny blue sky over the treetops - DISPLAYING!! on the 24th January!!!! Goshawk was a bonus bird for the trip as we never expected to see them this early in the year, even better was the fact that it was a lifer for me :o)
We then drove around to a suitable parking area for a walk up to Brierley Hill and across Serridge Ridge where they have faithfully frequented for a number of weeks. We walked the ridge and had to take momentary shelter under the trees as a brief deluge tried to soak us, once it ceased we continued our walk and saw plenty of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and a couple of stunning Brambling but no Two-bars.
We had news of Great Grey Shrike showing at Crabtree Hill although we had no idea where that was. I attempted to find it on the internet but O2 my service provider (personal branding NO-2) wasn't really 'providing' said service, although this wasn't surprising, it was frustrating...! We walked in what Lee Evans presumed was the correct direction and we felt we'd found the correct area based on the reporting. We walked through the heath be no joy so decided to head back to the car via Serridge Ridge. On the way back across the heath the Great Grey Shrike was spotted, it was at a distant but sat atop a bare tree in beautiful sunlight affording us some amazing views.
96. Great Grey Shrike
96. Great Grey Shrike
96. Great Grey Shrike
97. Two-barred Crossbill
97. Two-barred Crossbill
97. Two-barred Crossbill
97. Two-barred Crossbill
With all our target species for the day accomplished it was time to head across to Suffolk but we would go via Cotswold Water Park for Red-crested Pochard. They were reported on Pit 44, when we arrived I couldn't believe how many there were, I think it was 28 but I can't remember now.
Red-crested Pochard
We then continued onto Suffolk, heading for Thetford, we took another diversion via Staines Moor for Water Pipit but failed to locate any, the fields were flooded and it was dog walking time, we then popped into Staines Reservoir for Scaup with a bonus Black-necked Grebe. We managed to clock up Red Kite whilst travelling along the M4.
Red Kite
I only saw a total of 46 species today with 1 lifer (Goshawk). I'm now at 147 for the trip:
1. Hawfinch
2. Stockdove
3. Woodpigeon
4. Greenfinch
5. Blackbird
6. Jackdaw
7. Song Thrush
8. Mistle Thrush
9. Tufted Duck
10. Mallard
11. Moorhen
12. Coot
13. Lesser Black-backed Gull
14. Great Spotted Woodpecker
15. Blue Tit
16. Great Tit
17. Chaffinch
18. Bullfinch
19. Goshawk
20. Mandarin Duck
21. Brambling
22. Coal Tit
23. Raven
24. Two-barred Crossbill
25. Goldcrest
26. Carrion Crow
27. Common Buzzard
28. Red-crested Pochard
29. Goosander
30. Cormorant
31. Lesser Redpoll
32. Great Crested Grebe
33. Great Grey Shrike
34. Mute Swan
35. Red Kite
36. Kestrel
37. Magpie
38. Little Egret
39. Fieldfare
40. Shovelar
41. Gadwall
42. Pochard
43. Wigeon
44. Scaup
45. Goldeneye
46. Black-necked Grebe
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