[wolfbirder]

An early start yesterday, arriving at Forest of Dean at 9am. First port of call was Brierley - opposite the Esso garage....but half an hour and no Hawfinches! Not sure if they visit this spot now but I had cracking views of them here a few years back. A jay called noisily and a Nuthatch showed well, whilst a Raven called overhead and a flock of Siskins flew around....and plenty of tits and Chaffinches. I nipped into Speech House but nothing of note there either, watched a pair of Stock Doves getting fruity! New fancy viewpoint was freezing, no wonder I was the only one there! I spent an hour up to 10.45am and nothing....no raptors (not even Buzzards) and a paucity of Wood Pigeons even. It was lovely and sunny but perhaps just too cold for Goshawk display. I perhaps should have given it another hour as the day warmed, but my target bird of the day was the Black Throated Thrush at Swansea, which is quite a way even via the M4. Finding the Townshill area of the city was not that easy either, as my frustration levels grew as i drove around helplessly. Eventually I stumbled across Townshill Rd and quickly located the park, & by 1pm I was with a handful of other birders hoping to see the cracking adult male in adjacent back gardens. Over a period of an hour and a half, I glimpsed it twice. First time, it sat for a minute in the middle of one of the two red berry bushes it occasionally visited to feed (the bulk of the time being spent out of the view on the ground). I could see three quarters of the bird, but not all of it even if I moved a metre to the side. Very frustrating! But I did see the strong black bibb and pale underparts, and a yellowish bill. Half an hour later it momentarily perched out in the open with its back to us, showing its uniform grey upperparts, and as it turned to the side its black face was seen. That would do for me! Could have been better but views were not easy to obtain full stop.
From Swansea I drove up to mid Wales, which took longer than I expected. Nearly two hours later I arrived at the wonderful reserve near Tregaron, Cors Caron. Infact in the hour I spent there not a great deal was seen, a few Whooper Swans, and Buzzards and 3-4 Red Kites. But it is such an atmospheric place that I just enjoyed the views from the B road that skirts it. Tower Hide was closed apparently for those who may visit. To rejoin the main A44 back to the midlands, you have to drive northwards through villages for about ten - fifteen miles. I stopped three times to watch swirls of around 10 Red Kites which I guess were about to roost. If only i had more time! I really felt I had spent 70 per cent of the day driving and 30 per cent nervously bird watching!
Finally a Woodcock flew across the A44 as darkness fell. Not a wonderful day, I got to see the Back Throated Thrush but arrived home bleery eyed and knackered!

[John P]

That sounds more like hard work to me than birdwatching, I'm not surprised you're knackered, but, each to his own, as long as we all enjoy how we go about it.

The Churchyard in Parkend is worth a try for Hawfinch.

Originally Posted by wolfbirder

I nipped into Speech House but nothing of note there either

Where exactly did you nip in to? I know the Speech House Hotel but am unaware of an actual birding venue there.

Originally Posted by wolfbirder

Tower Hide was closed apparently for those who may visit.

Thanks for that info, been wondering for a while now.

The view from on the roof is quite good though.

[wolfbirder]

you are right pete, it wasnt too enjoyable.

At speech house i met another birder who had just come from parkend and he too had no seen any hawfinches.
The area just across the road from the speech house hotel turned up a few hawfinches last winter. But again my luck was out.

Obviously no guarantees with these birds anyway.