Forest of Dean

8 Feb - A sunny fairly calm morning offered a brief respite from the recurrently windy weather. A stop near Parkend church had a good result with 5 or 6 wary Hawfinches in the treetops around the Parkend Beech, initially picked up by their "ticking" calls. Difficult to see perched though, and more obvious in their parrot-like flight. New Fancy view is always reliable for Goshawk, and I saw a displaying male through the scope within 5 mins of arrival. Crabtree had flyover Crossbills, and then Roel Gate several elusive Bramblings with the finch flock on the game strip, but by now the wind had really increased. Then,a further showing from the Park Corner Shrike en route home, complete with the wintering but mobile golden Plover flock seen in flight over the A417. Finally, I was fortuitously at Pit 16 trying to photograph the Black-necked Grebe when Dave Creber found a Ring-billed Gull in the roost amongst the Common Gulls - pale eye, ringed bill and heavy chest / slightly larger size distinctive. A good day!