Forest of Dean

Had a few hours to kill today so made a trip to the Forest of Dean for the Two-barred Crossbills that have been showing extremely well of late. They had been reported around Crabtree Hill just down from Speech House and a blog I read yesterday gave Ordnance Survey grid references. I parked up in the Speech House car park and took a walk to said grid reference but was unable to locate any Crossbills by sight or sound. I did however manage Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Stock Dove and Marsh Tit for the year list, Goldcrest and Marsh Tit are also Bird Race ticks. Them Goldcrests are difficult to photograph, I had to put the camera onto manual and rattled off a fair few shots of which this is the best one!

76. Goldcrest

 

Thought I'd add this Treecreeper as it's marginally better than my one from previously on my blog.



I was on my way back to the car when I stopped to watch some Nuthatch's chasing each other around the canopy, when a tit flock came through which contained a few Marsh Tit, again not the best clarity as I was on manual trying to keep up with them. I've just realised that I also need Nuthatch for the Bird Race list but don't think I got any shots other that silhouettes of them.

77. Marsh Tit

77. Marsh Tit

 

I thought I'd add this one to today's blog as I was reasonably pleased with it, seems that Robins are the only birds I can satisfactorily take photos of.

Robin

 



After my abysmal failure at locating the TBC's I decided to head down to Parkend as Hawfinch's had be reported around the grassy area along the side of the cricket pitch. I spent about half an hour searching and only managed to find 2 Robins and a flock of Greenfinch. I decided to give it up and started to head towards the car when I heard high pitched squeaking, on looking up I saw a flock of finches fly over my head and across to the top of some tall trees. I stopped for a look and was rewarded with not 1 Hawfinch but 8! I've taken a few shots but they were at a distance, high up and with a grey back drop, you can just about make them out as Hawfinches from their shape and pattern.

 78. Hawfinch

 



78. Hawfinch





So even though I didn't catch up with the TBC, or even Common Crossbills actually, I still had an enjoyable couple of hours as this was only the second time I've seen Hawfinches.

Bucks Stone Curlew!!

After work yesterday, I checked the bird news as usual and was presented with the news that a Stone Curlew had been present at Gallows Bridge Farm (Part of BBOWT - Upper Ray Meadows). I've been there a few times before and for me the site seems great for raptors, I've only realised today that the area is far more expansive than I thought, I only knew about the Gallows Bridge Farm site.  Anyway, enough rambling...... The news of a Stone Curlew - in Bucks!! I couldn't believe it, finding out at the end of the day though I presumed it would move on overnight however news came this morning that it was still present so since I had time to dash over before work I couldn't resist.

I turned up at the site which was already occupied by a few local birders, bad news though, they were unable to locate it but informed me that as they were arriving a departing birder informed them they'd had views.  So I set about scanning the field and located the Stone Curlew tucked up against the hedge on the opposite side of the ploughed field to the right of the entrance track. It was sheltering from the biting cold wind which inevitably was blowing directly into our faces - it's April.....!

I watched the Stone Curlew for about 10 minutes and fired of a few photos but the light was dim and the bird distant so this was the best I could manage.

43. Stone Curlew

 

Although it was difficult to get a decent photo, I still managed some fairly decent views but only through the telescope.

 

Since the Stone Curlew was remaining tucked up and sheltered I thought I'd best have a look around the rest of the reserve.  Not a great deal to offer, suppose the cold, wind (and some snow - it's definitely April?) keeping everything hunkered down.

 

There were a few Canada Geese about, heard a Skylark and Curlew and had a Raven fly over then sat in the hide for 15 minutes or so. Slowly scanned the area, 3 Fieldfare were pointed out to me, I then located 2 Curlew the other side of the field by a small pool of water, this also contained a few Coot, Widgeon, Teal and a Shovelar. Whilst there the Canada Geese came over to the pond on which the hide overlooks, these were joined by a pair of Pied Wagtails.  Just before leaving 2 Stock Dove flew in and afforded so nice close views.

 

I left the hide just in time to catch a Red Kite flying over, got off a few shots but again nothing the write home about (or to blog about to be honest!) but here is the best of the lot.

 

44. Red Kite

 

As I was making my way back to the car I noticed the reserve had gotten a lot busier and that the throng of people were not looking were I'd been watching the Stone Curlew.  I made my way over to them to be told the Stone Curlew had moved and was offering better views.  Looking through the telescope there was no mistaking a Stone Curlew, I could even make out the yellow eye and the bill was obvious.  It was now quite active although still fairly distant and I was hoping it would move closer to us to allow me to get some better images but a new arrival parked next to it for a close view and spooked it resulting in it flying back to it sheltered spot on the far side of the ploughed field, I managed a couple of shots before it flew and one of it in flight.

 





 

That was enough of the Stone Curlew, more honestly I was frozen solid and needed to warm back up. Whilst loading everything back into the car a nice male Reed Bunting kindly posed on the bird table.

 

 45. Reed Bunting

 





 

As I was opening the gate to leave the reserve I watched whilst 4 Ravens were being harassed by jumping Canada Geese who were obviously concerned the Ravens were flying too low and too close for their liking - Funny.

RSPB HQ

Never been to the RSPB's HQ before but since I had an hour to kill I thought I'd pop over, I'd heard they'd had a number of Brambling visiting their feeders so hopefully it would be worth my while.

I arrived nice and early, only a few cars in the car park, the feeders however were already congested to the max with Lesser Redpolls, Siskins and Tits, a few Mealy Redpolls have been reported but my ID skills aren't good enough for separation of the two.

I took quite a few shots of the birds feeding which looked great on the camera display but rather blurred when transferred to the computer and view as a larger image.

A female Brambling appeared which I was happy with but she was very flighty and difficult to photograph, so after about 20 minutes watching and photographing the birds around the feeders I decided to take a quick walk around the nature trail.

I crossed the road to the start of the trail, made my way round the first corner then noticed some movement in one of the trees, 3 Brambling which sat for a while allowing me to obtain a half decent image.

32. Brambling

 

The walk around the reserve, although pleasant did not offer up much bird life, I think they all hang around the feeders! I heard Raven calling in the distance but didn't manage to see them.  I did see a fox and only managed a quick few shots as it ran off through the woods.

 

Fox

 

I continued round to the hide by the HQ building, again plenty of close up views of Redpolls, Tits and Siskin. A nice quiet hide allowing ample opportunity to practice photographing the birds.

 

 33. Redpoll

 

 Redpoll

 



 34. Siskin

 

Somehow managed to get onto this Coal Tit who rarely stopped in the same spot for more than 2 seconds!

 

35. Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Stock Dove, a bird I rarely get to see up close flew in with it's partner and again afforded me some fantastic close up views, I managed to get a fair few shots at different angles in an attempt to catch the neck patch in different lights, I only uploaded the one though, might have another look through and see if I can find one with the neck patch looking purple..

36. Stock Dove

 

I then noticed something flying low in the background, my first thought was Merlin, it was flying extremely fast but also rising, it was difficult to get onto with the binoculars but I eventually managed it - Woodcock, awesome, only my second every sighting and my first in daylight, I presume it had been flushed by walkers as there were a few in the direction from which I first noticed it.  Now an extremely happy bunny with Brambling and Woodcock for the day I decided to call it a day but just before I did a Goldfinch landed on the feeder so I grabbed a quick photograph for the blog.

37. Goldfinch

 

So all in all I would thoroughly recommend a visit to the home of the RSPB, a small heathland being restored, hopefully when it brightens up a little (if) there may be the chance of visiting Tree Pipit, Woodlark and who knows, maybe I could be so bold as to hope for Nightjar and Dartford Warbler!!

 

Almost forgot, while in the hide I had a glance out of the side window and saw this cute little bunny, couldn't resist a photo...

Bunny - Cute....