Gloucestershire is also well known for the Forest of Dean especially the RSPB reserve at Nagshead. This reserve is signposted from an unclassified road between Coleford and Parkend immediately outside Parkend village. This is one of the best places to see our three summer specialties - Pied Flycatcher (the photo below shows a female at a nest box at Nagshead), Wood Warbler and Redstart. It can also be good for Hawfinch, Crossbill, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and many other forest species. There is always a good chance of fly-over Goshawks whilst here.

Birders preferring something a little less busy in the spring may like to try the area around Speech House where most of these species can be found with a little more effort. In winter this is also a good area for finding winter thrushes and Bramblings. The nearby lake at Woorgreens is always interesting. There are usually Redpolls and Siskins in the surrounding alders and birches during the winter months. This is also a good spot for seeing Willow Tit. Towards the ridge beyond the lake is another good area for birds. In the summer Tree Pipits are fairly common and some years both Stonechats and Whinchats breed. Nightjars used to be seen here fairly predictably during the summer but now the vegetation has grown to high to be as attractive to them as it used to be. They are probably best looked for now on warm summer evenings on the ridge above Parkend church. Woodcocks can be seen roding at both of these sites in spring and summer. Woorgreens most popular bird in recent years was a wintering Great Grey Shrike and there is always a good chance of another re-appearing in this habitat.

One of the best areas for seeing both raptors and crossbills is New Fancy View, a high watch point between Parkend and Speech House. Here probably affords the best chance of catching up with Goshawks particularly in the spring. Most twitchers will know this site well because of the female Two-barred Crossbill in February 1998, which drew large crowds.

The other site, which is well known to most birders, is the RSPB’s Peregrine watch point at Symonds Yat. Visitors can view the Peregrines with telescopes, which are provided between April and August. Also Buzzards and Ravens nest here. The small dedicated team of wardens have been rewarded with two County firsts here, a Black Kite in 1985 and amazingly a Golden Eagle in 1989. From the A40 (southbound) take the B4229 and follow signs to Symonds Yat East (suitable for cars only).

The RSPB’s Highnam Woods reserve is just on the outskirts of Gloucester; it is 3 miles west of the city on the North side of the A40 just before Churcham. This reserve is justifiably famous for its singing Nightingales in May.