Sunday 15 March – Forest of Dean

 It was at nine o’clock when a baker’s dozen of members embarked on a circumnavigation of Woorgreens Lake, led by Keith Williams, serenaded by Nuthatches, Wrens and Great Tits. Thoughts of Asterix the Gaul came to mind as we spied a large wild boar that appeared to be shadowing our party! Arriving at the lake we encountered what appeared to be a battle royal between various factions of Canada Geese with a score of Goosanders spectating. Climbing gradually up to Crabtree Hill, where we met a party from the Dursley Birdwatching Society who appeared to be on Shrike duty, we too loitered to gaze and admire the Great Grey Shrike before returning to the start of our walk. The next port of call was New Fancy View, the Raptor view point, where our planned stay was curtailed by drizzle and poor visibility, but a number of Ravens, Siskins and a pair of displaying Buzzards were duly observed. As usual there was a large number of the brightly- plumaged Mandarin Ducks on Cannop Pond, while Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and a Kingfisher were discovered on the edges of the pond. In all over forty species were seen, noted, recorded and photographed on this trip. Many thanks to Keith for leading the trip.  Richard Belson