Hawfinch, Spring 2016, Forest of Dean.
16th March 2016
My wife Susan and I dropped into the Forest of Dean today on the off chance of seeing a Hawfinch that had been showing at Crown Lane, Parkend. To be honest it's not a favourite location of ours, it's extremely busy there with traffic and dog walkers. However, it's probably the easiest place in the forest to see these enigmatic birds. It's very difficult to photograph these shy birds unless you have inside information and I don't blame the locals for keeping good sites to themselves, I would do the same!
I have managed to photograph self-found birds there in the past but it's a long journey and a very early start because it takes an hour to get there from the Brecon Beacons. There is also the added problem of possible disturbance when you get there, it’s OK if you live there, you can come back the following morning but an hour’s drive each way and a 05.00 start is tough.
Although we were there just after 06.30, we expected to see cars parked there trying to see the bird. If this had been the case we would have driven straight past and gone for our intended walk in the forest. However, the site was deserted, so we parked up and sat waiting in the car. After about half an hour a male Hawfinch dropped down out of a Yew tree and began feeding in the leaf litter allowing me to take some photographs. We never try and see Hawfinches until mid-March because that’s when they come into full breeding plumage and the male is then a stunning bird. His beak turns from a straw colour in the winter to a leaden grey and he is then, for me, the smartest bird in the forest.
He showed for about thirty seconds and then flew up into the canopy as the noise began to increase from work traffic and people walking dogs. We decided to pack-up and leave and drove into the forest and had a very nice walk in a couple of locations.
Mission accomplished after a necessary very early start, if anyone wants to see these birds at this location, unless you are very lucky it’s got to be an early morning job!
Always wary!
He's heard the shutter even though it's on silent.
That's a really powerful beak!
I have managed to photograph self-found birds there in the past but it's a long journey and a very early start because it takes an hour to get there from the Brecon Beacons. There is also the added problem of possible disturbance when you get there, it’s OK if you live there, you can come back the following morning but an hour’s drive each way and a 05.00 start is tough.
Although we were there just after 06.30, we expected to see cars parked there trying to see the bird. If this had been the case we would have driven straight past and gone for our intended walk in the forest. However, the site was deserted, so we parked up and sat waiting in the car. After about half an hour a male Hawfinch dropped down out of a Yew tree and began feeding in the leaf litter allowing me to take some photographs. We never try and see Hawfinches until mid-March because that’s when they come into full breeding plumage and the male is then a stunning bird. His beak turns from a straw colour in the winter to a leaden grey and he is then, for me, the smartest bird in the forest.
He showed for about thirty seconds and then flew up into the canopy as the noise began to increase from work traffic and people walking dogs. We decided to pack-up and leave and drove into the forest and had a very nice walk in a couple of locations.
Mission accomplished after a necessary very early start, if anyone wants to see these birds at this location, unless you are very lucky it’s got to be an early morning job!
Always wary!
He's heard the shutter even though it's on silent.
That's a really powerful beak!