Sunday 10 March – Forest of Dean Leader: Nick Page

Thirteen of us started at a closed in, but dry, New Fancy View. Unfortunately, the birds did not play ball. Goshawks were seen before and after our time there. Some Siskins offered good views, as did a pair of Bullfinches on the way back to the cars. Next stop was Cannop Ponds, where many tits and finches provided quite the show, Marsh Tit the highlight. There were some Mandarins looking splendid as did the breeding plumage Little Grebe. On to Nagshead where we ate lunch by the pond, seeing the difference between frog and toad spawn. The reserve was quiet on our visit but we got good views of Treecreeper and Nuthatch. Parkend Church and Graveyard gave great sightings of two Firecrest, with two Hawfinch seen by some in the party. A few of us ventured back to New Fancy and were rewarded with seeing 15 Waxwings. A nice day, with a total of
46 species noted. (Thanks to Nick for leading) Nick Page