The day started windless, cloudless and humidly warm and 22 birders sat enthralled on the first ‘old fort’ high point, with its magnificent 180 degrees of crisp and clear view across the Severn Vale. This became our first rest and refreshment break and birds noted up to then were about 18 and included House Sparrow, Crow, Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Mallard, Blackcap, Dunnock, Raven, Swift and Lesser Black-backed Gull. There was also a good showing of butterflies from Ringlets and Blues to Peacocks. There were further extensive views of the Severn Vale as we walked towards the second, and larger, ‘old fort’ as well as views of the rolling hills in Wiltshire Following the welcome shade, as we descended a tree-lined path, several morning-only birders broke away to leave about 14 of us to enjoy our packed lunches as we sat on conveniently placed tree logs in a field with good views over Chipping Sodbury. Refreshed, we walked on and looked in at Old Sodbury Church before the long walk back to our start point, having added Chaffinch, Wren, House Martin, Coot, Mistle Thrush, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kestrel to our total of 34 birds on the list, kindly recorded by Nick Hawkridge. David Tombs