There are far fewer birds visible at this time of year although the level of the feeders still goes down. I topped up the nyjer seed feeder today and a goldfinch appeared within minutes. Curious thing, I have never, ever, seen a goldfinch around here except on my feeders, I have no idea where they came from or where they go.
Although the field and garden birds are becomming invisible among the greenary there seems to be a good colony of house martins at Latimer, I wish I could say the same for this village.
A couple of weeks ago I had to take a trip to the Wye Valley (what a hardship!). On the journey there was the usual split of red kites east of Oxford and buzzards to the west. The buzzards seem well established in the Cotswolds now. There was a good colony of swifts audible as well as visible at Burford and swifts or house martins visible around other villages.
The RSPB Nags Head reserve near Parkend in the Forest of Dean is an excellent starting point for walking. Not much was visible in the way of birds although it is a good spot for pied flycatchers. I had a nice view of a small deer from one of the hides although I wouldn't want to commit myself on whether it was a fallow fawn or a roe. Both can be found in the forest.
As always seems to happen when I am walking in the Forest of Dean I heard a buzzard crying overhead although I could only get glimpses through the trees. What was startling was the large number of dor beetles to be found on the paths.
In the reserve the woodland flowers were also in evidence although once outside the forest was generally darker and less interesting.
The following day saw a trip to the Gwent Levels reserve just outside Newport. This was created to compensate for the loss of habitat from the Cardiff Bay barage. In turn it is now threatened by the proposals for a barage across the Bristol Channel close to Flat Holm and Steep Holm.
The reed beds are superb and were full of warblers although I am not sure if they were reed or sedge warblers as they flitted through the reeds. The nests were very attractive to cuckoos and we saw four during the day which is more than either of us had seen in our lives before. It is a good reserve for egrets and we saw several both in flight and resting. All in all another recommended location.
Although the field and garden birds are becomming invisible among the greenary there seems to be a good colony of house martins at Latimer, I wish I could say the same for this village.
A couple of weeks ago I had to take a trip to the Wye Valley (what a hardship!). On the journey there was the usual split of red kites east of Oxford and buzzards to the west. The buzzards seem well established in the Cotswolds now. There was a good colony of swifts audible as well as visible at Burford and swifts or house martins visible around other villages.
The RSPB Nags Head reserve near Parkend in the Forest of Dean is an excellent starting point for walking. Not much was visible in the way of birds although it is a good spot for pied flycatchers. I had a nice view of a small deer from one of the hides although I wouldn't want to commit myself on whether it was a fallow fawn or a roe. Both can be found in the forest.
As always seems to happen when I am walking in the Forest of Dean I heard a buzzard crying overhead although I could only get glimpses through the trees. What was startling was the large number of dor beetles to be found on the paths.
In the reserve the woodland flowers were also in evidence although once outside the forest was generally darker and less interesting.The following day saw a trip to the Gwent Levels reserve just outside Newport. This was created to compensate for the loss of habitat from the Cardiff Bay barage. In turn it is now threatened by the proposals for a barage across the Bristol Channel close to Flat Holm and Steep Holm.
The reed beds are superb and were full of warblers although I am not sure if they were reed or sedge warblers as they flitted through the reeds. The nests were very attractive to cuckoos and we saw four during the day which is more than either of us had seen in our lives before. It is a good reserve for egrets and we saw several both in flight and resting. All in all another recommended location.
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