Tuesday 26 September – Stanton Drew Leader: Alan Craddock

25 members set off from the car park of the Druids Inn and headed swiftly down the road to assemble on the farm track. A good variety of birds immediately made themselves known including Dunnocks, two Collared Doves, a Wren and a Chiffchaff. Moving on, a young Buzzard was calling insistently from its perch on a hedge on the skyline. Nearing our coffee stop at Bye Mills, we came across a mixed flock of Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits and a panicked Moorhen made a desperate dash for the reeds and safety. Whilst we were having coffee a pair of Grey Wagtails put on a lively show whizzing back and forth below the sluice gates and two Kestrels made an appearance. We then came across a very industrious group of biscuit powered young folk on a day out from work who were planting a new hedge for Bristol Avon Rivers Trust. Good habitat for the future! Pensford came and went with no Dippers seen along with a report that they had been driven off by Mink activity. On the hill out, we heard a Green Woodpecker and saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker as we passed a gate into an open field. Approaching Upper Stanton Drew, we sighted four Jays and a Magpie flying across our path. On the way back we spotted Meadow Pipits on the ground and Goldfinches feeding on thistles. 34 species in total. (Thanks to Alan for leading). Alan Craddock