Penduline Tits at Horsbere Pool, Gloucestershire

Before heading for Gloucester this morning we diverted along the M4 to Corsham in Wiltshire in search of the Hooded Merganser which we hope might be a future life tick.

Arriving shortly after 8am we made our way towards the lake and joined a small group of birders who had already been enjoying views of the bird. It remained distant for most of the time we were there venturing a little closer only once and quickly took flight to the far side of the lake soon after it emerged from behind the island. 

Hooded Merganser

With time short we headed off up the M4. Forty five miles later we pulled into the layby on the A417 opposite the Premier Inn at Barnwood. A small group of birders were already scanning Horsbere Lake. Almost immediately the Penduline Tits were showing among the reed mace heads. Constantly moving around the reeds, they proved a challenge re-locating them if you dared to divert your eyes away from them. 

Penduline Tit

Two Chiffchaff were busy feeding among the bottom of the reeds and two large flocks of Common Snipe were disturb from the far edges of the lake, numbering at least 60+ birds. (The biggest number of Snipe I've ever seen).

From here it was a twenty mile trip to the New Fancy viewpoint. Having climbed the ramp, we joined the birders on the viewing platform and were put onto a pair of displaying Goshawk almost immediately!

They circled high in the sky before tumbling down below the tree-line and one peeled away to settle in a pine tree, allowing great scope views. Several Raven were seen from here and one flew directly overhead and Common Buzzzard were numerous in the area. Shortly before leaving we enjoyed fantastic views of a single Goshawk as it circled round and then ventured even closer to the viewing platform.

Having enjoyed views of Crossbill coming down to a puddle at Parkend last year we tried our luck again. Although no birds ventured down this time, we did managed to see a pair perched in a tree across from the church gate. 

A short distance from here we had heard that Hawfinch had been feeding under Yew trees recently. So we parked up and sure enough one came down to feed among the leaf litter.

Hawfinch

A great way to end a very enjoyable days birding.