18 November 2014: Hunting the Shrike, Crabtree Hill, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Another attempt to catch up with the Great Grey Shrike at Crabtree Hill in the Forest of Dean. A nice early start and firs one up the hill. There it was, still roosting and preening in a birch tree, but with the light behind it. Manged a few pictures of which this is the best and then all of a sudden it was off. and although I waited about for a while it never reappeared.

This robin arrived to try and cheer me up while I waited but no joy.

So off down into Parkend to look for Hawfinch. No Hawfinch but found this Mistle THrush feeding on Yew berries.

Then I spotted Redwing feeding on the same berries.

Mistle again

and more Redwing.

Overhead a Buzzard was escorted out of the are by a Corvid

At Parkend I also looked for Dipper but no sign in the usual places. Canop Ponds were quiet too, so back to Crabtree Hill just in case the Shrike had returned. No sign ofthe Shrike but a nice pair of Stonechat put on a show

and then it appeared and provided me with some excellent photo opportunities.

After about 15 minutes of hunting etc, it disappeared again and I left for home.

16 November 2014: A day at Upton Warren Nature Reserve, Worcestershire

Went to Upton Warren Nature Reserve with a friend and had an early start to try and catch the early morning activity. However, it remaind grey all day, so morning never quite arrived. That said we saw plenty of birds though no Kingfisher in spite being on site for over 6 hours - on the last few visits I have never failed to see at least one, even if I never managed any pictures.

Water Rail - appropriately enough from the Water Rail hide.

Dunnock

Male Reed Bunting

Fieldfare

Female Reed Bunting

Fieldfare and redwing

Cormorant

Black Headed Gull still with full cap

Blue Tit

Therwe was a Cetti's Warbler that kept teasing by flying around he hide and then acroo the various reedbed patches, but always evading the camera. Then we moved on to the east hide and saw approximately 50 Common Snipe in the open.

 

Presumably a rather leuchistic Greylag Goose, though it was hanging about with the Canadas

Lapwing, Teal and Snipe

Common Snipe

Lapwing feeding

Shelduck

Yellow Legged Gull with the Lesser Black Backed

Yellow Legged Gull

Common Snipe

Lapwing

Common Snipe really exposed

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Magpie

Teal

Another shot of the leuchistic Greylag

Common Snipe coming onshore from the island

Greylag scrap

the winner gains a feather

Selection of Canadas, Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gull and Lapwing

A very nice surprise as this female Blackcap turned up

As we left hispart of the reserve to go round to the flashes we discovered a small flock of Curlew near rthe car park.

From the Flashes hide there were some Common Snipe with Jack Snipe hiding in the reeds at the water's edge to the right.

Pied Wagtail

The Common Snipe and Jack Snipe again

Grey Wagtail

The flashes were very quiet, possibly too much water for waders after a lot of rain. Sun starts to set an dtime for home.