Cheshire,

A trip into deepest cheshire in search of goshawks brought a handful of good birds. The forecast was for sun and blue skies but the closer we got to the goshawk site the more misty it became. We stopped at another site on the way and a pair of med gulls in full breeding plumage were looking settled. When we eventually arrived we couldn't even see the wood never mind the goshawks. So plan 'b' sprung into action, we would have a mooch around the adjoining woodland with public footpaths whilst hopefully the mist would begin to burn off. There was plenty of wood sorrel blooming on the woodland edge. A good flock of about 100 redpoll were feeding on the woodland floor and had at least 3 mealy redpoll amongst them. Their larger size and frostier plumage showing well next to the lesser redpolls. A cracking male lesser pecker was with a small tit flock and was a nice suprise. Marsh tit was calling but we never did clap eyes on it. The mist began to disperse and a raven floating over the hillside attracted our attention. There was a goshawk giving it some hassle and it did a good job of chasing it off before it retreated back into the wood. The sun and blue skies eventually won the day and another glimpse of a goshawk over the wood was had before we left. An excellent days Cheshire birding.