Symonds Yat

The river flows quickly, forcing the Mallard to seek the little backwaters. Only the odd Cormorant is seen in the main stream.
The real interest at this time of year can come as evening closes in. Walking last night through the woods that skirt the river, I was regaled with a chorus of Tawny Owls. Now is the time for these birds to be establishing their territories and they repeatedly called across the valley. The woods here, both on the Gloucestershire side of the river and on the Herefordshire side, are old and mixed. They offer a range of nesting opportunities for the owls, whilst the wide forest rides afford a good environment for their main prey; voles. They may be hard to see, although one bird has a habit of nesting in a tree that overhangs the entrance to one of the many caves in the area, so listening to them on a cold night can be the main means of counting these birds. Driving round to Symonds Yat Rock this morning, hoping to catch sight of a a Peregrine Falcon, we witnessed a Buzzard on a road kill Pheasant. As the car approached, the bird tried in vain to drag its meal away. I am sure it quickly returned to its meal once we had passed,