Crossbills, Nuthatches + More !

Date: 2nd March - All Day

Location:  Forest of Dean - Gloucestershire

 Observation:  Day off with blue skies, so headed to Forest of Dean! We started at Crabtree Hill, to find the Great Grey Shrike, we looked with 5 or 6 other birders with no luck, but did find a pair of Crossbills (1st new tick for L), Redpoll and Siskins and a small group of Fallow Deer, we photographed them for 15 minutes or so, and walked back in the hope of seeing the Shrike, but again no luck, was quite a wind blowing so maybe put him off! But walking back we seen 3 Raven's circling over!

With still no sign we moved onto Cannop Ponds, and took a few shots of the resident Mandarin Ducks (2nd new tick for L), around 5 there, with more around the Lake, with also a Little Grebe of note. With alot of Thrushes feeding on the mud, we put some seed down and within seconds there were Great Tits and Blue Tits and then 3 Nuthatches, all taking it in turns to feed on this! They were coming within 5 foot of us at times! 

Over 200 shots later between us, we moved onto Parkend, in hope of some more Crossbills and Hawfinches. A few birders looking for these who had been there throughout the day, looks like it did show early morning, but once again we missed the Hawfinches (we will be back!), Crossbills also didn't show at Parkend, but we did see 4 Squirrels, 3 of which were Kits, come out the nest and playing and chasing each other around the tree, before it got too windy and 'Mum' followed them back in to warm up! Although we didn't see everything we didn't want to, we will be back to get the other ticks! 

Weather:  Blue Sky, Some Cloud, Cold Wind

Other Species: Buzzard, Crossbill, Redpoll, Siskin, Raven, Coal Tit, Mandarin Duck, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush - Of Note

Thanks For Looking!