Hawfinch Forest of Dean (1 Viewer)

[Cudyll Bach]

Can anyone give me some idea of where to go in the Forest of Dean to see Hawfinch?
Thanks in advance
Iain

 

[Stranger]

Can anyone give me some idea of where to go in the Forest of Dean to see Hawfinch?
Thanks in advance
Iain

I sem to remember that Speech House is a good area for Finches,not sure if that includes Hawfinches though.
The Forestry commission website should give you the info you need.

 

[Nick-on]

Can anyone give me some idea of where to go in the Forest of Dean to see Hawfinch?
Thanks in advance
Iain

Hi,
Parkend church is usually pretty good, also opposite the petrol station in Brierley and next to the school near Speech House are the sites I usually go to. Parkend church appears to be the most productive at the moment.

HTH

Nick

 

[Cudyll Bach]

Thanks both the information is very much appreciated.

 

[Colin]

Hi,
Parkend church is usually pretty good, also opposite the petrol station in Brierley and next to the school near Speech House are the sites I usually go to. Parkend church appears to be the most productive at the moment.

HTH

Nick

I think that this sums up the situation as at Feb 2007. Drop me a pm if you want any more precise details. Note that Parkend Church is one of those that is just outside the village (years ago, it was a church for two villages). If you go to the railway station (steam line) in Parkend , go over the level crossing and up the hill for about 1/4 mile and the church is signposted on the right. The road to the church is about 1/4 mile long as well. Park in front of the church and with your back to the church look out over the graveyard which drops away in front of you. Check the tops of the trees all around and then if need be walk to the right back down the road a little way and go right around the outside of the graveyard and back to the car park. Check the hornbeam trees around the graveyard.

 

[Cudyll Bach]

Thank you very much Colin, I will definitely be giving it a go before the trees come back into leaf.

 

[gareth_blockley]

Good good. Im planning on going on the RSPB arn't birds brilliant things soon, the Funky Finches and one for Goshawks. So time permitting i may see some Hawfinches too :-O

 

[Nick-on]

Didn't have any success at Parkend yesterday pm (although apparently some people had brief views) but had superb views of Goshawk displaying from New Fancy View, just up the road, which made up for it!

nick

 

[Cudyll Bach]

There is a reported sighting at Parkend on the Glamorgan Bird Club website from yesterday, think I will take a trip up there this Wednesday if the weather is good.

 

[Cudyll Bach]

Success, valley boy and myself went to Parkend yesterday, we had quite a long wait but eventually 5 possibly 6 Hawfinch turned up and gave decent views for around 15 - 20 minutes.

 

[Colin]

Success, valley boy and myself went to Parkend yesterday, we had quite a long wait but eventually 5 possibly 6 Hawfinch turned up and gave decent views for around 15 - 20 minutes.

Glad they came good for you.

 

[wolfbirder]

Speech House seems to be the place this year for Hawfinch (in the paddocks directly opposite the hotel). On my 2 visits this year they skulk on the ground behind a small fence under an ivy tree (about 10 yards from "Verderers Oak" - a tree with this sign on it, obviously of some historical importance). But, as soon as they see or hear you they are off!! A very frustrating place to get views. Really need to approach slowly and queitly or you will just see white tipped tails as they fly off.

Parkend church directions in one of the posts above are excellent, you just need to slowly wander around the woods tracks beneath. Not sure if they have been seen there this year though.

Brierley has been the place I have previously enjoyed great views, though again reports this year are sporadic. In the tiny village of Brierley, on the main road is a petrol station. Across the road is a forestry track that you can drive down and park up after about 100 yards, where a track branches off to the right. Walk down this track about twenty yards to the barrier gate and scan back at the undergrowth towards the direction of the main road. Hawfinches can come and go but it can at times appear birdless. As usual they are very sensitive to noise and movement. But if they come down yo can have very good views.

The approach drive to Nags head RSPB has been fruitful, but I have never connected.

Ask the locals for up to date info. A roost site this winter revealed 20 birds somewhere behind Cannop Ponds cycle centre. I have never checked this out.

Any updates on FoD Hawfinches?

 

[wolfbirder]

upto 8 birds either in horse paddocks opposite Speech house hotel but flighty, and there is construction work very close, and also upto 8 birds below Park end church but absent for long periods. Early morning trips to both sites are productive. A singleton was aparently tape-lured into view yesterday briefly at Brierley early morning, but not sure this site has been quite so productive recently.

As always with this species, i suggest you approach quietly. They flush easily especially at speech house where it is hard to approach birds.