We know that we have been lucky with the weather while we have been in England insomuch that when it rained, for most of the time, it rained not on us. However I think that summer did end last Sunday which was a beautiful day for the forecast indicated rain approaching from the west.We have had some rain and the temperatures are definitely lower.We spent the whole day at The International Biirds of Prey Centre at Newent and we saw three of the flying displays of a variety of owls and falcons. I would recommend this site and they do need our support. During one of the displays a wild Hobby flew high above us and at the end of the day two Buzzards appeared.

We have spent the last two days at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust where we hoped to get as much birding in as possible. This was our only chance to go there and they still await the arrival of the northern wintering birds. It was quiet therefore but we did get two really good hits those being a Long Billed Dowitcher and one Mediteranean Gull which were both pointed out by friendly birders-both recorded by Michelle on her magic camera. You will get one eventually posted on this blog. We saw Peregrine flying and a Hobby flew over to scatter the waders. To add to our day a Bullfinch flew in front of us and we intend to go back and walk that hedgerow in the morning.


These were also two important days when I met a distant cousin for the first time in fifty three years and so birding was running alongside some of my past.

We are still enjoying Herefordshire and maybe see some more farmland birds.