Dry but foggy all day.
A depressing day due to the fog not lifting at all here but a good day bird wise. A quick trip across the Forest this morning revealed that the weather was slightly better elsewhere but I certainly didn't see any sunshine.
The Speech House field was busy with birdlife, a few Crows in the distance but the thrush family was well represented. Several Blackbirds were accompanied by two Mistle Thrushes, a couple of Song Thrushes and about a dozen Redwings. A quick visit to New Fancy on my way home and a Hawfinch was feeding on the ground under the feeders. This will certainly be the highlight of my week. There were a large number of Chaffinches in the vacinity together with Coal Tits a plenty, a lone Nuthatch and lots of Blue and Great Tits. On my way back home a lone Buzzard was sitting at the top of a dead tree, silhouetted against the sky.
My walk around the village today showed large numbers of Woodpigeons, some feeding in various open spaces but mostly flying to and fro at high speed. A couple of pairs of Collared Doves flew up noisily as well. A Green Woodpecker took off from a patch of grass up into some large oak trees. Two Greenfinches were calling from the top of a Leylandii hedge while a Hedge Sparrow fed on the ground below. Several House Sparrows were feeding in the road but joined a lot of their colleagues in the Hawthorn hedge as I passed.
A flock of Goldfinches were seen in the trees at the end of the garden with Wrens and Robins busying themselves about the place. Our resident cock Blackbird was sitting in the bottom of a large shrub singing very quietly, it won't be long before he is going full tilt. The Hazel catkins are growing by the day, Spring cannot be too far away.

Cloudy but mild.
A few very quiet days as far as birds and wildlife are concerned. The sun has been shining for short periods and this brightens things considerably. Many birds are starting to sing although Spring is obviously some way off. Blackbirds, Song thrushes and Robins have all been very vocal along with Wrens and Great Tits whose song is a little boring to say the least. The Hedge Sparrows who may look a little nondescript, certainly brighten things with their cheerful renderings.
There is still one Fieldfare feeding in the small orchard, accompanied today by two Chaffinches and a lone Woodpigeon. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker flew off through the oak wood as I approached whilst a Nuthatch busied itself along some of the upper branches. Woodpigeons and Blackbirds were feeding among the leaves on the woodland floor.
Today there were six Ravens making a big commotion and flying in and out of the tree tops. I've never seen this many together in the village before. They have certainly bred locally in the past as I've seen them feeding youngsters on the local football pitch in recent years.
Magpies, Crows and Jackdaws all put in an appearance throughout the day with Blue and Longtailed Tits flitting along the hedges.
Several Grey Squirrels about today, again, running away up the nearest tree, much to my dog's disgust. The molehills seem to grow both in quantity and size, some of them are getting mighty close to the edge of the football pitch. If they appear on there, they will not be popular.
The first lamb of the year has been born to one of the street sheep, I'll try to get a picture up shortly.

Sunshine, sleet, rain, cloud.
A very mixed bag of weather over the last few days has not brought any unusual birds to light locally. Everything that one would expect to see about the village has been present. A tawny owl flew across in front of the car, well lit up in our headlights. The first I have seen for some time although we hear plenty especially during the later months of the year when they are establishing their territories.
A couple of trips to New Fancy over the weekend failed to bring any hawfinches into view. I did however see a brambling, a flock of about 20 chaffinches and large numbers of blue and great tits.
A visit to Slimbridge did of course reveal lots of new birds that are never seen at home. Curlews, lapwings, sandpiper, mallard, Canada geese, shelduck, shovelor, wigeon and pochard were all there in large numbers. The starling display, coming up to dusk, really has to be seen, it is spectacular. Large quantities of jackdaws roost on the grounds there too, along with loads of woodpigeons. The bewicks swans were of course present in large numbers.

Grey morning, brighter later.
Another fairly quiet day for birds, although it is now much milder, even some sunshine this afternoon. The garden has produced it's usual mix of visitors today. Wood pigeons and magpies in the bottom hedge, robins, hedge sparrows and wrens mooched about in the shrubbery. Green and gold finches sang from the whitebeam tree. The jackdaws and a couple of crows were stalking about under the oak trees on the green near home. There were plenty of grey squirrels in evidence today obviously well awake from any winter slumber. They were being very active chasing about the trees.
A small paddock that I pass on my usual walk contained 10 blackbirds feeding with only one flying up as I appeared round the corner. The nearby orchard only revealed two chaffinches today, with one collared dove flying away as I approached. Several starlings were perched on some telephone wires, mostly flying off as I came into view. Two nuthatches were in evidence in some oak trees making a lot of shrill calls as I passed. Only one buzzard sighted today, soaring over the Forest.
Another day done.

Murky grey day.
A quiet day day about the village today, although most of the usual birds did put in an appearance. A couple of robins seemed to be chasing each other around the garden while a hedge sparrow sang from the bottom hedge. As I walked the dog round the lanes today one of the first sights was two buzzards circling fairly high over the nearby Forest. Several blackbirds were running along the grass verge ahead of us. The small trees and gardens that I passed produced some blue tits and a jay which flew off into the woods.
The playing field yielded a couple more blackbirds and their big relatives the mistle thrush pair. Woodpigeons seem to be in abundance at the moment but only a sprinkling of collared doves. There were a few starlings about this morning and a good crowd of house sparrows in and out of gardens and hedges. There was a song thrush with three blackbirds on one grass verge accompanied by two grey squirrels, they all made themselves scarce through the fence into the football ground.
A visit this afternoon to Cannop Ponds saw loads of small birds on the feeders. Blue, great and coal tits, robins and chaffinches. On the water were the inevitable mallards a pair of mute swans ans several youngsters with a single little grebe. A fairly peaceful day all round.

Frosty, foggy morning, brighter later.
A strange day today.Almost every bird that I came across during the morning was trying to warn me off. Whether it was the garden blackbirds or the robins down the road everything gave a warning call as I approached. I guess that it must have been the fog that caused everything to freak out as I approached. It certainly was that kind of day, every time I saw birds they showed mr their rear ends. Crows, woodpigeons, jackdaws, starlings, collared doves, they all flew away as I approached. Even a songthrush flipped up from the grass verge over into the football field, where there were two mistle thrushes feeding out towards the centre circle.
When the weather cleared later in the day things seemed to settle down and the birds were more back to normal. A pair of coal tits flitted along the bottom hedge and a single hedge sparrow was singing from the hazel tree.
Towards dusk three waves of jackdaws were heading for their roost probably 200 in all. A greater spotted woodpecker flew from the oak trees opposite home towards the bigger oak wood along the road. A very quiet and strange day.

Dry, sunny spells.
Pretty quiet about the village today. All the usual small birds have been about in the garden today. Robins, wrens, the three common tits, green and gold finches. The cock blackbird having a twitter from his little tree top, cheering things up a little. Two magpies showing again in the trees at the bottom of the garden. They seem to be investigating the ivy that is growing up a sycamore tree, this will have to be watched.
One buzzard was circling overhead today, no rain to keep it grounded today. They always look better flying than sitting silently in a tree. I hope that every time I step out through the door during the summer a buzzard mewing in the distance will be the first thing that I hear, as usual.
Plenty of woodpigeons flying about today along with two collared doves.
The orchard was free of birdlife today but the oak wood showed two jays and a nuthatch. A woodpecker was heard, probably a green but I couldn't see it.
Several starlings were seen on the phone wires, going nowhere.
A very quiet day all round.

Very wet and windy.
First sighting this morning was a flock of about 20 Jackdaws winging their way over to the farmland at the rear of our garden. A few gulls were riding the wind not close enough to tell what they were.
The resident garden cock blackbird was in evidence as ever. He often sits under a shrub and twitters quietly, letting me approach within about a metre. Two robins made their presence felt as always. Although it was raining heavily they were still chasing each other about.
There were a few grey squirrels about today including one on a bird feeder in someones garden. They were very noticeable by their absence during the frosty weather.
As ever the small bird population were showing themselves but only briefly. Wrens, chaffinches, greenfinches, goldfinches, hedge sparrows and house sparrows. The only unusual appearance was by a treecreeper which ran up and down and round and round a horse chestnut tree. First one seen by me for some time.
A buzzard was hunched up in a tree on the edge of the farmland, no thermals to soar on today. Woodpigeons, 14 in total were hunched up on the telephone wires, while a few starlings kept them company.
I disturbed a solitary song thrush in the oak wood and had a good telling off and the orchard was empty today apart from a single collared dove.
The weather forecast is better for tomorrow, I much prefer not walking in the rain, as for singing, forget it.
Any photos used in this blog will have been taken by me on my travels.

Milder day but dismal and windy.
A very grey day with high winds has made it difficult for birds today. Many small birds about today but all flying high with the wind behind them. Several small groups of starlings about, obviously intent on going somewhere.
Very few birds about on the ground today, a few blackbirds here and there, including just three in the orchard, with two fieldfares and four chaffinches in attendance.
Several woodpigeons and collared doves on local flights as were jackdaws and crows.
One buzzard was seen on a street light but it was having great difficulty in staying there due to the high wind.
Almost every field seemed to have a good crop of gulls today although there were also plenty riding the wind. Nothing unusual as far as I could tell, a mix of black headed, common, herring and lesser blackbacks.
It has turned in wet at the end of the day with more rain forecast for tomorrow. I hope that it will be less windy tomorrow.

Hard frost, very foggy.
Today started very cold, a hard hoar frost covered everything.
The first birds seen today were goldfinches feeding on the frost covered thistle heads opposite the house. There was quite a crowd today, probably 12 maybe more, and certainly at least one siskin accompanying them.
When I eventually ventured out with the dog, a pair of ravens flew over towards the Forest. Several wood pigeons were flying about, seemingly for no apparent reason. I have tried to take a few pictures today, of which more later.
The oak wood was quite busy with birds today, plenty of blue tits, great tits and a few longtails. Robins, hedge sparrows and wrens seemed to be plentiful, with two nuthatches making plenty of noise. Two song thrushes and about eight blackbirds were rooting about amongst the thick layer of leaves that cover the ground here. The thrushes fly up into the trees as soon as I appear but the blackbirds take little notice.
The orchard revealed only four blackbirds and two fieldfares, a single collared dove and three chaffinches. I think that the apples are rapidly being eaten up.
Many house sparrows flitted about from bird tables to their hideaways in a thick hawthorn hedge.
Jackdaws, rooks and crows were feeding on the field at the back of the house as the day grew warmer and the pair of magpies were in evidence in the hazel tree again.
The frost had all cleared by the end of the afternoon with much milder weather forecast for tomorrow.

Our resident blackbird on his favourite singing perch.
Fieldfare on orchard floor.

Fog, frost and sunshine.
A fairly dismal day today. Very cold and icy on my walk about the lanes today. Plenty of crows and jackdaws flying hither and thither, they obviously knew where they were going. Woodpigeons were much in evidence today, too. They all seemed to be on express trips as they were intent on getting to their destinations in a bit of a hurry.
The local orchard only revealed about a dozen blackbirds today with two fieldfares filling their bellies in attendance. Several chaffinches and a collared dove accompanied them today.
There were a few longtailed tits in the garden today with several blue tits and two great tits. Two coal tits also appeared today, the first I had seen for some time. A lonesome song thrush flew out of the hedge as I went to the bottom of the garden.
A party of goldfinches were feeding in the garden before visiting the thistles on the Forestry land opposite. Three greenfinches were busy calling to one another with wrens, robins and hedge sparrows all busying themselves amongst the shrubs.
A buzzard came visiting and perched in a large oak tree opposite home. I took a couple of pictures from the window then went outside to see if I could get some better shots. As soon as I went round the corner of the house it took off for distant places. Another photographic masterpiece missed. The pictures from in the house weren't up to much either.
Three goldcrests were about in a large whitebeam tree at the top of the garden. They were busily feeding for some time before heading away towards the Forest. Three blackheaded gulls lazily overflew the house, apparently heading nowhere in particular.
All in all a pretty uneventful day.

Slight thaw today. Everything dripping wet all day.
Fairly quiet on the wildlife front today but all the birds seem to have perked up and are chirping, cooing, squawking etc.
Highlight today was probably a pair of bullfinches that flew up from the roadside into a small tree as i approached. I had a good view of them for several minutes. I often hear them as I go about the village but rarely see any of these gorgeous birds.
There seemed to be blackbirds everywhere today, apart from the orchard gang. Only about 25 there today along with two fieldfares and about 10 chaffinches.
A small party of long tailed tits zitted their way along the hedge at the bottom of the garden, a baker's dozen in fact. Other garden visitors today were several hedge sparrows, a couple of robins, a pair of magpies who seem to spend a lot of time in the hazel tree. A small party of goldfinches and a few greenfinches and a solitary wren made up the small bird tally. Flying over were a few jackdaws, plenty of crows and a high flying raven. A handful of blackheaded gulls visited the field adjacent to the garden.

Cold again,snow showers, sunny spells.
A sad note to start today. A dead badger on the road out of the village. Sadly this will continue to happen until either the traffic slows down or these beautiful creatures keep off the roads. As they have to find food even when the ground is frozen as at present they have to travel to live and it is inevitable they will be crossing our ever busier roads.
A creature, rarely seen, that seems to be doing well is the mole. Almost every grass verge, football pitch and field is covered with the remains of their diggings. I did catch one in the garden some years ago by getting my spade under it when I noticed the molehill moving. I caught it in a bucket and removed it to some nearby woodland. Maybe I'm partially responsible for the fact that they are doing well.
The highlight of the day was sighting a buzzard on it's kill ( a rabbit ) in a nearby field. It was being hassled by three crows and a little later had given it up to his adversaries. Two other buzzards seen today, one perched on a street light and the second in a small tree.
The fallen apples were feeding about 40 blackbirds today, accompanying them were six fieldfares, two robins and three chaffinches.
I had a good telling off this morning. I disturbed a song thrush on the road, as I returned from dog walking. It was trying to extract a snail from it's shell at the side of the road and it was not going to give way to me or our German Shepherd bitch. I know that times are hard but I don't fancy snails.
Several jays flew up from the oak wood floor, they were probably searching for acorns that they had tucked away a few months ago. Plenty of longtailed, blue and great tits about as well.
There is a good population of house sparrows living down the road. The residents feed them well and they seem to be thriving. A lot of hay is put out in the adjacent fields for the horse residents, I don't doubt that this helps, too.
There were plenty of the local birds about today, perhaps because it was a little warmer. Robins, hedge sparrows, wrens, greenfinches, goldfinches were all about today plus a single nuthatch and a mistle thrush. As daylight drew to an end every large tree seemed to have a smattering of woodpigeons going to roost. They certainly seem to thrive whatever the weather.

This blog will be about my sightings of birds, insects, trees and the natural world in general. Most of my travels will be around the village where I live on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

Jan. 6th 2009. Very cold, ground frozen.
On entering a large patch of mature oak trees nearby today, about 50 redwing, that had been searching through the leaf litter, flew up. They were followed by a handful of blackbirds which are of course not so nervous. The usual residents were all about, too. A few robins, hedge sparrows and wrens all trying to find sustenance amongst the leaves. Up in the trees longtailed tits were calling as well as blue and great tits.
Along the road I pass a small orchard. The apples have all been left to fall. What a feast for the birds! Today there were about 30 blackbirds feeding on the fallen fruit together with a handful of fieldfares. They are pretty nervous and mostly fly into the trees while the blackbirds take little or no notice. A few chaffinches and robins are helping themselves as well.
Not many woodpigeons about today but a pair of collared doves went shooting up from a garden as I passed. A lonely lapwing flew towards the Forest, heading in an unusual direction.
A gathering of goldfinches and greenfinches in the hedge at the bottom of my garden flew off noisily over the adjacent field. A pair of magpies were as usual much in evidence.
A few crows and jackdaws flying over and that was about it for today.