Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire - 30.11.21
Whilst down in the FOD I was interested to note a Snow Bunting is regularly visiting a small pond at Cleeve Hill which towers above Cheltenham, a new location for me and with it only being twenty or so miles away I thought why not a visit.
It's an early start not wanting to get caught in commuting traffic arriving just before sunrise hoping to get there before anyone else waving cameras about, well I'm not the first by any means with several dog walker already ploughing off through the snow out into the darkness.
I'm sat in the car the sky red as the sun starts to appear, then the fog rolls in...would you believe it ! Not wanting a wasted trip I thought I'd leave the gear in the car (did I say that !!!!) and at least have a look to see if I can locate the bunting.
Heading of into the fog in what I think is the right direction I find the small pond the bunting has been frequenting...nothing ! Now just gone 8.30am and the sun is in charge the fogs departed and it's turning into a great morning but still no sign of the bunting, chatting with another birder who seems to have accepted it's off somewhere else he trudges back to his car, then at distance I see a bird on a post flicking at the snow which I'm sure is the bunting, and it is !....giving the bird a wide birth it's back to the car for the gear.
I'm back the bunting content hopping amongst grass heads poking through the snow occasionally taking in the scenery from a post or the wire fence. It's not long before I'm joined by other camera wheelders some taking more liberties than they should and the bird flys off lucky only to circle back.
A few more images and it's time to call time and head back eager to see the images I've managed, I usually have a hit rate of 1in 50 !....so fingers crossed, always learning !
Snow Bunting
