Thursday.
Ashleworth Ham Nature Reserve - Cold, calm and sunny. Early morning temperature in the Forest of Dean was only 1 deg C.
When I arrived at the hide at Ashleworth, there was a flock of 16 Snipe flying around, a lone Goldcrest was in the thicket near the hide. I scanned all around the reserve from the hide and eventually refound the Great Grey Shrike. I was expecting to not find this bird as I had thought that it might have been a bird on passage and the night had been clear and potentially good for migration.
I moved on to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. From the Holden Tower hide, I was very surprised to find a pair of Whooper Swans on the river with the tide out. They were spending much of their time asleep. This is an unusual species at this site. A pair of Stonechats right in front of the hide gave some colour and the 6 White-fronted Geese are still present.
Ashleworth Ham Nature Reserve - Cold, calm and sunny. Early morning temperature in the Forest of Dean was only 1 deg C.
When I arrived at the hide at Ashleworth, there was a flock of 16 Snipe flying around, a lone Goldcrest was in the thicket near the hide. I scanned all around the reserve from the hide and eventually refound the Great Grey Shrike. I was expecting to not find this bird as I had thought that it might have been a bird on passage and the night had been clear and potentially good for migration.
I moved on to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge. From the Holden Tower hide, I was very surprised to find a pair of Whooper Swans on the river with the tide out. They were spending much of their time asleep. This is an unusual species at this site. A pair of Stonechats right in front of the hide gave some colour and the 6 White-fronted Geese are still present.
