I went to look for a female Smew which had been reported on the lake on Chipping Sodbury Common. I couldn’t even find the lake let alone the Smew. No one knew where the lake was, even a man living on the Common had no idea. I went to go to the Golf Club (there must be water on a Golf course) but there was a competition on and no where to park. So, I walked across the Common and saw 3 Skylarks, 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldfinch and a noisy Robin.

I carried on to Oldbury Power Station (on the Severn Estuary) in the hope of seeing a Peregrine. I was more lucky here as I saw the (female, I think) Peregrine on the top of one of the towers. There was little on the coast except 2 Shelduck and a flyby Avocet (that made up for the other disappointments). On the pool near the entrance there were 4 Tufted Duck and a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees.

As there weren’t many waders here I thought I would give Aust Warth and Northwick a go. At Aust Warth there was a man flying a drone which I didn’t think was conducive to birdwatching so I went straight on to Northwick. Not really a lot here either. A Mute Swan, 2 more Shelduck, 24 Redshank, 6 Turnstone, 2 Wheatear and 2 Sand Martin all within reach of the promenade.

My photographs were disappointing but I had a very enjoyable afternoon.