Sunday 14 August – Oldbury Power Station. Leader: Pete Hazelwood

Ten people met early at this decommissioned nuclear power station on the Severn Estuary north of Thornbury, on a day that got rapidly hotter. We circled the northerly dry lagoon (Lagoon 2) with bordering large trees and some secretive side paths, then entered the open estuary embankment with the lovely sight of a flock of 20 Ringed Plovers, nine Dunlins and a Turnstone wheeling and landing along the foreshore – more Turnstones also camping out on a far buoy. We continued past the power station and back to the raised south dry lagoon (Lagoon 3) overlooking a large lake, and through a meadow and orchard. We saw or heard Canada Goose, Moorhen, Sparrowhawk, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and four Green Woodpecker, Swallows, a Little Egret perched in a tree, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail, and three Bullfinches calling as they flew over. Pete’s keen eyes picked out a young Peregrine hiding in the shade of a pylon strut. Total species was 36. Many thanks to Pete, whose patch this is, for leading.  Lois Pryc