Darren Pearce
Well-known member
The kids and I popped up to Gloucester/Wiltshire for the day. The first stop was Ashleworth Ham in Glos hoping for the Water Pipits that had been there recently.
Unfortunately you couldn't see your hand in front of your face as it was so foggy. We waited for an hour but it got worse rather than better. We moved onto Stank Lane looking for one or both of the Great Grey Shrikes that are there. Some other birders had seen one earlier. We quickly gave up as even if there was a Great Bustard we would not have seen it.
Next stop was the Cotswold Water Park on the off chance that we may see the Ringtail Hen Harrier. Luckily there was no fog. I always get lost there even with my map.After about half an hour of driving aimlessly and turning the map sideways and upside down I stopped at a lake which might have been the right one. Unbelievably after about five minutes the Hen Harrier flew right across the lake and started quartering the bank.
221 Hen Harrier
We moved onto a place called Harnhill and in particularly the phone box at Harnhill as it is good for Tree Sparrow. Tree sparrows are rare where I come from and would be a lifer. I wondered into the field by the phone box and waited. Again after five minutes a male Tree Sparrow appeared on top of the hedge, quickly followed by another.
222 Tree Sparrow
Unfortunately you couldn't see your hand in front of your face as it was so foggy. We waited for an hour but it got worse rather than better. We moved onto Stank Lane looking for one or both of the Great Grey Shrikes that are there. Some other birders had seen one earlier. We quickly gave up as even if there was a Great Bustard we would not have seen it.
Next stop was the Cotswold Water Park on the off chance that we may see the Ringtail Hen Harrier. Luckily there was no fog. I always get lost there even with my map.After about half an hour of driving aimlessly and turning the map sideways and upside down I stopped at a lake which might have been the right one. Unbelievably after about five minutes the Hen Harrier flew right across the lake and started quartering the bank.
221 Hen Harrier
We moved onto a place called Harnhill and in particularly the phone box at Harnhill as it is good for Tree Sparrow. Tree sparrows are rare where I come from and would be a lifer. I wondered into the field by the phone box and waited. Again after five minutes a male Tree Sparrow appeared on top of the hedge, quickly followed by another.
222 Tree Sparrow
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