Fifteen members met at Berkeley Castle on a warm sunny day for a mainly flat circular route starting and ending along a minor road and then on walking routes and bridleways, some next to channels and the Severn. The terrain was mainly open country with the occasional shading from trees. Our leader gave us some interesting snippets of history starting with the Jesters Tomb in the Churchyard where we got a glimpse of a Goldcrest flitting in a large Atlantic Blue Cedar and then as we passed the castle a Buzzard circled above. After hearing a Reed Warbler in a deep ridge we got a clear view of two Reed Warblers in the reeds as we passed over a channel. After joining the Berkeley/Pill path we heard the wheezing of Greenfinch and warbling Blackcaps. A Kestrel was spotted flying with some prey and it proceeded to land on a far gate and started to feed. There were plenty of butterflies including Marbled White, Small Skipper and Clouded Yellow. Where the channel met the Severn we spotted a Little Egret, Heron, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatchers. Alongside the Severn there was a Shelduck with four small chicks bobbing about in the choppy water. We returned back on a path between two hedgerows and as we reached Berkeley a Red Kite flew overhead bringing the total species seen to 44. Many thanks to Peter for leading the walk Stephen Clarke